3 March 2008

Water voles, Roman snails and other species have recently been approved for greater legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

A recent letter to us from Defra confirms the recent changes:

"Thank you for your letter of 11 February about the Quinquennial Review of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA). As a result of the Fourth Quinquennial Review the following species will be added to Schedule 5 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act, for protection in England:
• Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris). Protection for wild specimens will be increased to full protection under section 9 of the WCA, adding prohibitions against intentional killing taking or injury (s9(1)), possession (s9(2)), and sale s9(5a,b).
• Roman Snail, (Helix pomatia). Any wild caught specimens will be protected against intentional killing taking or injury (s9(1 )), possession (s9(2)), and sale s9(5a, b).
• Spiny and short-snouted seahorses (Hippocampus guttulatus & Hippocampus hippocampus). Any wild caught specimens will be given full protection under section 9 of the WCA. The protections will prohibit intentional killing taking or injury (s9(1 )), possession (s9(2)), damage or disturbance in a place of shelter 9(4a, b, c) and sale s9(5a, b).
• Angel Shark (Squatina squatina). For any wild specimen killing, taking and injuring s9(1) will be prohibited in England and within 0-6nm of English territorial waters.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 5) (England) Order 2008 (S.1. 2008/431) which implements the protection for these species was laid before parliament on 26 February and will come into force on 6 April 2008."

We understand Wales and Scotland are expected to enact the same provisions shortly.