Matt Hewson

Geelong Duck Rescue (GDR) has referred to as on the state authorities to finish annual duck looking seasons as Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney weighs the 2023 duck season.

The Victorian’s 2023 duck season is about to start on Saturday, March 18, however the GDR has urged the minister to cancel the season completely as a result of continued decline within the duck inhabitants and a “lack of social licenses” for exercise.

Natalie Kopas, head of the GDR and longtime wildlife rescuer, mentioned duck looking within the Lake Connewarre state sport reserve, which encompasses Reedy Lake, Hospital Swamp and Lake Connewarre itself, poses a risk to the sustainability of native duck populations.

“With the continued threats from local weather change and the continued decline in waterfowl numbers, it’s merely insane so as to add one other risk to geese within the title of leisure pursuits,” mentioned Ms. Kopas.

“This isn’t sustainability. That is brutality.”

He described duck looking as an “outdated exercise”.

“Most Victorians should not duck shooters; There are 26,000 individuals and fewer than half of them are lively.

“We kill our native wildlife simply to fulfill a handful of duck hunters.”

Trent Leen, who at the moment serves as a conservation officer at Geelong Discipline and Sport, sits on Discipline and Sport Australia’s board of administrators and the strategic planner for the wetland atmosphere process power, mentioned the proof doesn’t help the GDR’s claims.

“Habitat loss is the most important issue we have now relating to the sustainability of our waterfowl,” mentioned Mr. Leen.

“Even Richard Kingsford, of the Jap Australian Waterfowl Aerial Examine, famous that duck looking harvests had no affect on waterfowl sustainability. Our harvest is insignificant in comparison with the precise complete inhabitants.

“Duck looking has been banned in New South Wales for a few years, and if you happen to have a look at the information, their inhabitants continues to be declining as a result of habitat is an important issue.”

Leen identified that the conservation efforts of Discipline and Sport, which was established to make sure the sustainability of duck populations, have a way more optimistic impact than the destructive impact of looking.

“Duck season is barely three months of the 12 months, however we’re there for the remainder of the 12 months doing conservation initiatives,” he mentioned.

“We worth geese greater than anybody else. That is why we work and rehabilitate wetlands to make sure the commodity stays sustainable and thrives.”