Claims Canada Geese will be poisoned grossly irresponsible
Released 18 Mar 2011
Federated Farmers is finding claims that Canada Geese will be mass poisoned by groups opposed to the bird's reclassification as a pest are grossly irresponsible.
"We welcomed the Government's announcement reclassifying the Canada Goose as a pest, but the response from opposed interest groups has been irresponsible. There are no plans by Federated Farmers to use poison to cull numbers," says Donald Aubrey, Federated Farmers game and pest animal management spokesperson.
"Both Fish and Game and Peter Dunne have both made this claim, which is false and makes little sense.
"If this poison got into the waterways, where do they think farmers draw their water from? They aren't interested in poisoning their own stock, or even themselves for that matter.
"Also, the Canada Goose is avian. Most of New Zealand's indigenous wildlife is avian. That severely limits any poisoning options. There isn't even a registered poison for Canada geese, which means it is illegal to poison them no matter how they're classified.
"This is nothing more than scaremongering from both Peter Dunne and Fish and Game.
"The real good news result of the Government's decision yesterday has been overlooked. Hunters are no longer being taxed to shoot Canada geese. They no longer require a game license and all the fees that entails. It's open season.
"What's really happening here is that the Government was put in a tough position because Fish and Game weren't doing their job in controlling the Canada Goose population.
"Fish and Game have long thumbed their nose at the Government. For example, the South Island Canada Goose Management Plan from 1995 set a population limit of 20,350. In 2008 that figure was 35,000. It's worse now.
"Fish and Game were more interested in collecting their hunting license fees than they were in protecting the environment. They were actively working to get the Canada Goose established in the North Island - a deliberate colonization effort.
"After years of failure, colonization was finally achieved by carting Canada geese by trailer from Ashburton Lakes to the North Island.
"Talk about a conflict of interest. They were establishing further colonies while apparently trying to control their numbers elsewhere. No wonder this situation got out of control and the Government had to step in and sack them.
"Effectively Fish and Game have been let off the hook. Now someone has to clean up the mess and there is a huge cost involved in that. When you think about it, a cost Fish and Game should be prepared be meet.
"Federated Farmers is committed to ensuring members are not being ‘eaten out of house and home'. This pest won't disappear by itself and farmers deserve more than just excrement. To that end we propose meeting with all interested parties to find a solution - even those that have lost their financial interest," Mr Aubrey concluded.
For further information contact:
Donald Aubrey, Federated Farmers game and pest management spokesperson 03 696 1747, 027 623 7157
