25 June 2005 – Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra

 

All participants of the conference, with relevance to hunters, recognized that Lead Poisoning (that on ducks and rails occurs when birds ingested spent lead shot from hunters), is a form of mortality to eliminate, regarding the fundamental concept that hunting activity is a form of sustainable and wise use of wildlife resources.

 

Was demonstrated that Lead Poisoning also occurs in Portugal in significant proportions and that should be eliminated through the use of non toxic materials on the cartridge shoots for hunting on wetlands.

 

The Danish experience confirmed the existence of non-toxic shots efficient on waterfowl hunting, that are available on the market, that don’t pose security problems for this type of hunting and that, in the case of steel, have prices similar to lead shots.

 

Not consensual was the date for the lead ban for hunting on wetlands, being that the organization insisted on the need for such measure be taken as soon as possible, since lead poisoning will continue to occur many years after the lead ban, i.e. until lead pellets continue available on wetlands.