Committee Report: Control of Ruddy Duck at Wigan Flashes and Pennington Flash Country Park
Report to: |
Cabinet |
|---|---|
Date: |
16 November 2006 |
Subject: |
Control of Ruddy Duck at Wigan Flashes and Pennington Flash Country Park |
Joint Report of: |
Director Designate of Environmental Services Chief Executive Leisure and Culture Trust |
Contact officer: |
Roz Park - 01942 404232 Graham Workman - 01942 828906 |
Purpose / summary: |
To allow access to Council-owned land for the control of Ruddy Duck. |
Alternative options considered and reason for selecting the one recommended: |
The alternative is to refuse permission for access to control Ruddy Duck on Council-owned land. To refuse permission would be contrary to the international agreements which oblige the UK to support action to conserve the White-headed duck. |
Recommendation / decision: |
Access to control Ruddy Duck is given to Central Science Laboratory on Council-owned land. |
Key Decision: |
This report does not involve a key decision. |
Implications: |
|
Financial: |
None |
Staffing: |
None |
Policy: |
Biodiversity Strategy |
Equal Opportunities – has a Diversity Impact Assessment been conducted? |
N/A |
Wards affected: |
Worsley Mesnes, Abram, Lowton East |
Special Interest Members – Which have been consulted |
N/A |
Tracking/Process:
|
Consultation |
Ward Members |
Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
|
- |
- |
- |
Panel |
Overview & Scrutiny |
Cabinet |
Council |
- |
- |
16.11.06 |
- |
There are no Background Papers to this Report within the meaning of Section 100D of the Local Government Act 1972.
Proper Officer |
Martin Kimber |
|---|---|
Date |
6 November 2006 |
1.0 Background
1.1 The White-headed Duck is classed as an endangered species and its existence is being threatened by hybridisation with the Ruddy Duck. International programmes are now being implemented to protect the long‑term viability of the White-headed Duck.
1.2 Ruddy Duck was introduced to the UK from North America and escaped from captivity in the 1940s. It first bred in the wild in 1960, soon forming a self‑sustaining feral population. By 1998 the UK population had increased to about 4,000 birds. In the last 15 years the impact of this species on its closely related cousin, the White-headed Duck, has been the cause of much concern. The White-headed Duck does not occur in the UK but Ruddy Ducks migrate to their breeding areas, prompting the development of a programme for Ruddy Duck control.
1.3 A number of international agreements oblige the UK to support action to conserve the White-headed Duck, including:
- Article 8(h) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which recommends that “each contracting party shall, as far as possible and appropriate, prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species”.
- Article 11, 2(b) of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats which states that each Contracting Party undertakes “to strictly control the introduction of non‑native species”.
2.0 Proposals
2.1 Wigan Council has been contacted by Central Science Laboratory (CSL) who are an Executive Agency of the UK Government Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and are implementing the control of Ruddy Duck nationally. Central Science Laboratory require authorisation from the Council to access water bodies on Council‑owned land to carry out this control. The initial proposal from CSL is to control Ruddy Duck at Wigan Flashes which supports an average population of between 40 and 80 birds over the winter. This represents up to 2% of the national population and is concentrated on Pearson’s Flash. Regular breeding occurs on site usually of 5 to 7 pairs maximum. The work would be programmed in short sessions to ensure that disturbance to any other wildlife would be negligible.
2.2 It is also likely that access to Pennington Flash will be requested once the controls have been carried out at Wigan Flashes. Pennington Flash supports a population of around 10 Ruddy Ducks with winter maximums of 30 birds when smaller water bodies are frozen over. Regular breeding occurs on site usually of 2 or 3 pairs maximum.
2.3 Control will be carried out by suitably licensed operatives who have carried out this work on over 90 sites across the UK, including those managed by the RSPB, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and several of the county Wildlife Trusts. Detailed risk assessments and methodologies will be agreed with Wigan MBC and Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust as well as Natural England.
3.0 Alternative Options Considered and Reason for the Recommended Option
3.1 The alternative is to refuse permission for access to control Ruddy Duck on Council-owned land.
3.2 To refuse permission would be contrary to the international agreements which oblige the UK to support action to conserve the White-headed Duck.
4.0 Conclusions
4.1 Wigan Flashes is both a key wintering site and breeding site for Ruddy Duck and permission to access the site to carry out control will be critical to the overall success of the national programme. Pennington Flash also has a significant number of Ruddy Duck and may also need to be included within the programme.
4.2 As part of the Council’s commitment to the protection and enhancement of Biodiversity and under the Council’s Biodiversity Strategy it would be inappropriate to refuse permission to Central Science Laboratory for access to Council-owned land. This project has international significance for the protection of European Biodiversity.