Prohibited or unauthorised method to capture or kill
Updated 13 June 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protected-marine-species/prohibited-or-unauthorised-method-to-capture-or-kill
Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
The prohibited means of capturing or killing of mammals are:
- using blind or mutilated animals as live decoys;
- sound recordings;
- electrical or electronic devices capable of killing or stunning;
- artificial light sources;
- mirrors or other dazzling devices;
- devices for illuminating targets;
- sighting devices for night shooting comprising an electronic image magnifier or image converter;
- explosives;
- nets which are non-selective according to their principle or their conditions of use;
- traps which are non-selective according to their principle or their conditions of use;
- bows or crossbows;
- poisons and poisoned or anaesthetic bait;
- gassing or smoking out; and
- semi-automatic or automatic weapons with a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition.
- aircraft or moving motor propelled vessel
- any indiscriminate means
The prohibited means of capturing or killing fish are:
- poison; and
- explosives
The prohibited means of capturing or killing wild birds are:
- snares, limes or hooks;
- using blind or mutilated birds as live decoys;
- sound recordings;
- electrical or electronic devices capable of killing or stunning;
- artificial light sources;
- mirrors or other dazzling devices;
- devices for illuminating targets;
- sighting devices for night shooting comprising an electronic image magnifier or image converter;
- explosives;
- nets or traps;
- poisoned or anaesthetic bait; and
- automatic or semi-automatic weapons with a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition.
Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
The prohibited means of capturing or killing mammals are:
- the use of blind or mutilated animals as live decoys;
- tape recorders;
- electrical and electronic devices capable of killing or stunning;
- artificial light sources;
- mirrors and other dazzling devices;
- devices for illuminating targets;
- sighting devices for night shooting comprising an electronic image magnifier or image converter;
- explosives;
- nets which are non-selective according to their principle or their conditions of use;
- traps which are non-selective according to their principle or their conditions of use;
- crossbows;
- poisons and poisoned or anaesthetic bait;
- gassing or smoking out; and
- semi-automatic or automatic weapons with a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition
- any other means which are indiscriminate and capable of causing the local disappearance of or serious disturbance
The prohibited means of capturing or killing fish are:
- poison; and
- explosives.
The prohibited modes of transport are:
- aircraft; and
- moving motor vehicles.
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)
Wild birds specifically:
-
sets in position any of the following articles, being an article which is of such a nature and is so placed as to be calculated to cause bodily injury to any wild bird coming into contact therewith, that is to say, any springe, trap, gin, snare, hook and line, any electrical device for killing, stunning or frightening or any poisonous, poisoned or stupefying substance;
-
uses for the purpose of killing or taking any wild bird any such article as aforesaid, whether or not of such a nature and so placed as aforesaid, or any net, baited board, bird-lime or substance of a like nature to bird-lime;
(c) uses for the purpose of killing or taking any wild bird:
- any bow or crossbow;
- any explosive other than ammunition for a firearm;
- any automatic or semi-automatic weapon;
- any shot-gun of which the barrel has an internal diameter at the muzzle of more than one and three-quarter inches;
- any device for illuminating a target or any sighting device for night shooting;
- any form of artificial lighting or any mirror or other dazzling device;
- any gas or smoke
- any chemical wetting agent;
(d)uses as a decoy, for the purpose of killing or taking any wild bird, any sound recording or any live bird or other animal whatever which is tethered, or which is secured by means of braces or other similar appliances, or which is blind, maimed or injured;
(e)uses any mechanically propelled vehicle in immediate pursuit of a wild bird for the purpose of killing or taking that bird,
Any wild animal in Schedule 6
- uses any trap or snare for the purpose of killing or taking or restraining any wild animal included in Schedule 6 or 6ZA;
- any electrical device for killing or stunning;
- any poisonous, poisoned or stupefying substance;
- any net;
- any automatic or semi-automatic weapon;
- any device for illuminating a target or sighting device for night shooting;
- any form of artificial light or any mirror or other dazzling device;
- any gas or smoke not falling within sub-paragraph (ii);
- any sound recording used as a decoy; or
- any mechanically propelled vehicle in immediate pursuit of any such animal;
- pursuit by mechanically propelled vehicle
Further information
Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)
Contact information
Marine Conservation Team
0300 123 1032