Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the decision to issue a licence for white-tailed eagles to be introduced into England on the risks posed to (a) livestock and (b) domestic pets; what consultations have taken place with farming groups and their representatives on that matter; and if he will make a statement.

Natural England examined the diet and feeding behaviour of white-tailed eagles elsewhere in continental Europe and found no evidence of predation of livestock or pets. The evidence strongly suggests it is most likely that the birds will feed on a range of wild prey and carrion – fish, birds, rabbits and hares - usually around the coast or waterbodies. The areas surrounding the proposed release site will provide ample wild prey for the birds. There appears to be no evidence of livestock or pet predation elsewhere in Europe with the exception of some lamb predation in Scotland where husbandry conditions are very different to East Anglia and there is a lower abundance of wild prey.

Natural England also looked at evidence from the Isle of Wight reintroduction project which has closely monitored all of the GPS tagged birds including studying their diets. Some of these birds have spent time on livestock farms in Norfolk and have been shown to feed only on wild prey. In the unlikely event of livestock predation occurring, it is most likely to be localised, rare and perpetrated by just one or two eagles and there is a conflict management plan and exit strategy to address any concerns.

The licence applicants consulted a number of farming organisations including the National Farmers Union (NFU) and representatives of the sheep, pig and poultry industries. They also participated in a webinar organised by the NFU for livestock farmers in the East Midlands and East Anglia and wrote directly to a number of local farms and estates. A web based survey was conducted in which 63% of 216 farmers expressed support for the project.