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Farming Today: 22/03/24 Licensing for Scottish grouse shoots, illegal waste dumping, oyster fishing on the Fal

22/03/24 Licensing for Scottish grouse shoots, illegal waste dumping, oyster fishing on the Fal

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 22/03/24 Licensing for Scottish grouse shoots, illegal waste dumping, oyster fishing on the Fal

Licensing for Scottish grouse shoots becomes a reality.

Licensing for Scottish grouse shoots becomes a reality.  It's welcomed by some but not others.

The Wildlife and Muirburn Bill has passed through the Scottish Parliament and brings in the licensing of grouse shoots, banning animal snares and changing the rules on the burning of heather.  For the RSPB it's game changing legislation, for gamekeepers a disproportionate response.

Conservation groups are calling for a clean up of an ancient woodland in Kent, which they say has been left devastated by the dumping of illegal waste. This is a place called Hoads Wood near Ashford, which is privately owned by a number of people. The Environment Agency says it's investigating a number of individuals and companies for fly-tipping.

All this week we've been talking about shellfish and the oyster fishery on the Fal Estuary is steeped in history. Only sailing and rowing boats are allowed to be used to pull small dredges. But even this light touch hasn't been enough to keep the native oyster population at sustainable levels, so in a rare move, the few fishermen and women who are left are now asking for tougher regulations.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

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22/03/24 Licensing for Scottish grouse shoots, illegal waste dumping, oyster fishing on the Fal

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