Commenting on the publicity surrounding some research from a symposium on lead ammunition, Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Tim Bonner commented: "England and Wales have some of the most restrictive regulations on the use of lead ammunition in the world, which was brought in from 1999 onwards. The headline figures from this symposium suggesting that tens of thousands of wildfowl are dying from lead ingestion relate mainly to research that was carried out between 1960 and 1983 before the restrictions were in place. It is completely illogical to suggest further restrictions on the use of lead ammunition based on research that was done before existing regulations were put in place. In addition nearly all the wildfowl species referenced in this report are migratory and there is no way of knowing where any lead shot that was present in their digestive systems was picked up.
"Meanwhile populations of nearly all wintering wildfowl species in the UK are on the rise and wildfowl as a whole represent one of the major conservation success stories of recent years. There does need to be total compliance with lead ammunition restrictions in the UK, and from all signatory parties to the AEWA agreement which committed countries to prohibit the use of lead ammunition over wetlands. There is, however, no case for a total ban based on evidence gathered before the current restrictions were put in place."
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