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RSPB attacks Ribble seagull cull amid BAE bird strike fears | RSPB attacks Ribble seagull cull amid BAE bird strike fears |
(35 minutes later) | |
The government has given the go-ahead to cull thousands of seabirds in the Ribble Estuary because of safety fears at a nearby airfield. | |
But The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says the decision is a "dangerous precedent". | But The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says the decision is a "dangerous precedent". |
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ruled after hearing concerns from BAE Systems. | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ruled after hearing concerns from BAE Systems. |
The aerospace firm is concerned about birds getting sucked into the engines of jets taking off at its Warton site. | The aerospace firm is concerned about birds getting sucked into the engines of jets taking off at its Warton site. |
Defra has said up to 1,000 herring gulls and 1,000 lesser black-backed gulls can be destroyed on Bank Marsh. | |
Andrew Dodd, of the RSPB, said his organisation understood BAE's safety concerns about the breeding gulls in the Ribble Estuary, which is a Special Protection Area (SPA). | Andrew Dodd, of the RSPB, said his organisation understood BAE's safety concerns about the breeding gulls in the Ribble Estuary, which is a Special Protection Area (SPA). |
But he added: "We are concerned about what this decision means for other SPAs such as Morecambe Bay or Martin Mere. | But he added: "We are concerned about what this decision means for other SPAs such as Morecambe Bay or Martin Mere. |
"It is a dangerous precedent." | "It is a dangerous precedent." |
'Bird strike' | 'Bird strike' |
Mr Dodd said RSPB disagreed with Defra's idea that a quarter of a protected site's breeding bird population can be lost without damaging the site's conservation value. | Mr Dodd said RSPB disagreed with Defra's idea that a quarter of a protected site's breeding bird population can be lost without damaging the site's conservation value. |
He added that the RSPB was "considering its options" on how to respond. | He added that the RSPB was "considering its options" on how to respond. |
A Defra spokesperson said: "After careful consideration we have taken the decision to allow a limited number of gulls to be controlled that are impacting on air safety." | A Defra spokesperson said: "After careful consideration we have taken the decision to allow a limited number of gulls to be controlled that are impacting on air safety." |
She said human life in this case was more important than wildlife and denied birds in other SPAs were at risk. | She said human life in this case was more important than wildlife and denied birds in other SPAs were at risk. |
"Each situation has to be judged on a case-by-case basis," she said. | "Each situation has to be judged on a case-by-case basis," she said. |
A BAE statement said: "The population of herring gulls on the Ribble Estuary presents a risk of bird strike to aircraft operating from Warton airfield. | A BAE statement said: "The population of herring gulls on the Ribble Estuary presents a risk of bird strike to aircraft operating from Warton airfield. |
"BAE Systems has sought to reduce this risk." | "BAE Systems has sought to reduce this risk." |
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