Forest and Bird today welcomed proposals by Fish and Game to phase out leadshot.
“Forest and Bird has been campaigning for a number of years to have leadshot banned”
said Eric Pyle, Conservation Manager of Forest and Bird. “Every year hundreds, possibly thousands, of kilograms of lead
are sprayed into wetlands and lakes through leadshot from waterfowl hunting.”
“We are pleased to see that Fish and Game is proposing to phase out leadshot. Viable alternatives to leadshot have been
available for a number of years. Leadshot has been banned for years in many other developed countries.”
Mr Pyle said that under Fish and Game’s proposals, there could be a phase out period and a total ban on leadshot for
waterfowl hunting in 2004.
“Forest and Bird would prefer a ban being put in place earlier,” said Mr Pyle. “But overall, we congratulate Fish and
Game on this initiative”.
For further information see: www.fishandgame.org.nz or www.forest-bird.org.nz