3. ACTIONS UNDER AEWA

The AEWA Action Plan, appended as Annex 3 to the Agreement Text, contains a paragraph specifically addressing the issue of lead poisoning in waterbirds: 

Action Plan Paragraph 4.1.4: Parties shall endeavour to phase out the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands by the year 2000

The AEWA Conservation Guidelines, adopted in Resolution 1.10 at the First Meeting of the Parties, acknowledge the seriousness of the issue and urge the Range States to switch to non-toxic alternatives:

AEWA Conservation Guidelines No. 2: Identifying and tackling emergency situations for migratory waterbirds

Lead poisoning in waterbirds, resulting from the ingestion of spent lead shot, is not generally believed to cause emergency situations, and often remains unnoticed. It is a common mortality factor in Europe and North America. Millions of waterbirds died annually in the USA before the use of lead shot was banned. Raising public awareness is an important issue, as in many countries lead poisoning is not recognized as a problem, and the environmental dangers have yet to be acknowledged.

AEWA Conservation Guidelines No. 5: Sustainable harvest of migratory waterbirds

Spent lead shot from hunting cartridges is toxic, and has been highlighted as a key problem for waterbirds. The use of steel, tungsten or bismuth instead of lead can address the problem of poisoning. These alternatives are already widely available and in use. Lead poisoning is an unacceptable waste of the waterbird resource, and in recognition of this, the Agreement encourages Parties to phase out the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands by the year 2000

In the light of the above, Resolution 1.14, and Project C11 of the International Implementation Priorities 2004, both adopted at the First Meeting of the Parties, request the Technical Committee to review the experiences of those countries that have phased out, or are endeavouring to phase out, the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands, in consultation with hunting organizations, gun and ammunition manufacturers and traders, and accordingly bring elaborate guidance to the Meeting of the Parties at the present session.

“Gradualism with clear targets and implementation deadlines over a reasonable period of time may be the only right and realistic answer.”

Sergiu Celac, Alternate Romanian Representative to FACE

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