Natural England blames 'resource constraints' for late licence data - Campaign Update

* Licence data publication delayed due to 'resource constraints' and 'Defra content availability'.
* Also: ongoing saga of covert trade in wild birds eggs for human consumption, as amber listed gull eggs once again appear on restaurant menus.

Hi folks, 
Just a very quick update for you all.

As you know, we have been expecting to see Natural England's wildlife licence data since March - they told me it would be released 'no later' than the end of that month...
It didn't materialise then, and still hasn't as I write this.
So, I contacted Natural England again last week to see if they could give me an update. They have now provided me with a revised publication date - 14th May.
Natural England told me that "this is later than usual due to some resource constraints and also Defra content availability to publish."
It's an explanation that doesn't inspire confidence in the system, and perhaps even gives the impression of a bit of a shambles behind the scenes.
Anyway, we're now expecting to see the data on 14th. It will reveal the extent of lethal control affecting many native species of wild birds. I plan to issue a further update shortly after it is published, with some initial observations.

Gull eggs for human consumption - abhorrent practice continues.
On a related note, as part of the wider campaign, many of you will know that I have been calling for the complete withdrawal of specific licences that permit the harvesting of Black-headed gull eggs for human consumption. Our campaign has helped to pressure Natural England into withdrawing some of these particularly contentious licences, but a couple of them remained stubbornly in place.
I have regularly asked Natural England if they would consider withdrawing these remaining licences, and I was hopeful this year that they would, given the shaky conservation status of this vulnerable species of gull and the effects of bird flu on the already declining populations.
Now, in a highly dubious decision, it seems that Natural England, the agency tasked with protecting England's nature, has quietly decided to cave in to the demands of wealthy diners and allow the abhorrent trade to continue.
It's of note that these eggs can change hands at around £100 a dozen..... so it's clearly a lucrative business for the few that benefit from it.

It appears to be a sensitive subject for Natural England. Read on....

Promised update never arrived....
On 20th February this year, I asked Natural England for an update on the licences, and urged them again to halt the annual harvest of thousands of gull eggs as human food. They told me, "Natural England has not granted any licences to collect Black-headed gull eggs for human consumption as yet."
That sounded fairly promising.
So, on March 10th, I asked Natural England to confirm again whether or not they would be issuing any licences to harvest Black-headed gull eggs this year.
Natural England's deputy director of wildlife licensing responded, saying that they would "provide an update once our processes have concluded".
But that update never came.
And now the eggs have been spotted for sale online, as well as being on the menu at a fancy restaurant, suggesting that the 'processes concluded' and the licences were approved behind firmly closed doors.
So much for transparency.
The whole trade in wild birds eggs for use as human food is an anachronism in the 21st century, and quite why the authorities in charge of protecting nature continue to approve and legalise the continuation of this abhorrent trade is beyond comprehension.
We live in a time of rapidly declining wildlife and wanton destruction of nature.
Black-headed gulls are on the amber list of conservation concern, it beggars belief that England's nature watchdog facilitates their persecution.
When I raised this issue with the government's Minister for Nature a few weeks ago, there appeared to be a startling lack of empathy and understanding of the ethical debate around people collecting and eating wild birds eggs. The Minister told me "At the national scale, the cumulative effects of black headed gull egg-collecting are considered very small in relation to the national population of the species and the eggs they produce."

But what about the morality of harvesting and eating the eggs of a threatened species?? As with so many things these days, there appears to be little sense of what's 'right' and 'wrong'.

'Nothing to hide'
I have now asked Natural England why they did not update us about the gull egg licences as they said they would. I explained that a decision in favour of approving these particular licences will doubtless shock and surprise many.
Natural England have told me that someone will be in touch with me next week with a response.
Quite what that response will contain is anybody's guess.
It is disappointing that Natural England was not more forthcoming with an update, this is the organisation that assured me they want to be as transparent as possible, and that they have 'nothing to hide'.
Perhaps it's time for a more independent body to oversee and maintain the licensing system, one that comprises individuals with empathy for the natural world, with an emphasis on putting nature before financial interests.

Okay, so let's see what the next couple of weeks bring. I'll keep you in the loop of course. 

Best,
Jase
Campaign and Petition Info: CLICK HERE