Killing fish-eating birds on rivers to conserve Atlantic salmon or sea trout
How to apply for a licence to lethally control fish-eating birds to conserve Atlantic salmon or sea trout.
Use non-lethal methods
You must try non-lethal methods to control fish-eating birds. You must do this before you consider applying for a bird licence.
Find out about alternatives to lethally controlling wild birds.
Apply for a licence
if you want to kill fish-eating birds to conserve Atlantic salmon and sea trout because non-lethal methods have not resolved your problem, you must apply to us for specific bird licence.
Licences can be issued to enable lethal control of fish-eating birds between, and including, 1 October and 17 March.
Licenced lethal control of cormorant and goosander is issued only as an aid to non-lethal control techniques. It is not to be used as a cull to reduce overall population size.
Information we need
- Prospective licensee's name, address and contact details
- Your reasons for applying for a licence (500 words)
- Ten digit start and end grid references for each control sector
- Names and addresses of any licensed accredited agents for each control sector
- What non-lethal methods you have used, how frequently and how effective they were
- Why you did not use other non-lethal methods
- A bird count and map of the river catchment
How long it takes
We will respond to you within 40 days of receiving a complete application.
How much it costs
We do not charge for this type of licence application.
Start your application