Renewed calls for duck-shooting ban marks season opening

The Tasmanian Greens today renewed their calls for a ban on the annual recreational duck shooting season which opens this weekend, saying the Environment Minister could easily put an end to this needless slaughter of Tasmanian water fowl.

Greens Environment and Animal Welfare spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said that it was less than a year ago that the Tasmanian Greens tabled a petition signed by over 3000 people calling for an end to the duck shooting season, on the grounds that it was cruel, senseless and damaging to the environment.

“An hour before dawn on this autumn day, the calm across far too many Tasmanian wetlands and waterways was shattered with the blast of a shot gun, as duck shooters take aim at flying silhouettes,” Ms O’Connor said.

“More than 3000 concerned citizens signed a petition calling for an end to this senseless slaughter which the Greens tabled last year, but this plea has again fallen on the deafest of ears.”

“The Greens are committed to introducing legislation to ban recreational duck shooting, to fully protect which our native waterbirds for 12 months of the year instead of the current ludicrous situation where they are protected for nine months and then become shooting targets for the remaining three months of the year.”

“This three month shooting season is out of step with community expectations, and a clean, green and compassionate Tasmania.”

“Our waterways, wetlands and coastal habitat are very significant for other waterfowl and threatened species, and it is past time that they were protected and managed to enhance their important ecological features and wildlife,” Ms O’Connor said.

There are five native duck species which are considered game species for the purposes of the three month shooting season: Mountain Duck, Black Duck, Wood Duck, Grey Teal and Chestnut Teal.