Protected Species

Many species receive protection under the Wildlife Act 1990. Here you will find pages with notes on some commonly found protected species. If you have protected species on a development site, please contact the Wildlife and Conservation Division for advice as early as possible before any works. This may avoid delays later.

The Wildlife and Conservation Division has, in 2004, reviewed some of the schedules to the Wildlife Act and the Department has made the following revisions. The list of protected animals (Schedule 5) has been revised through The Wildlife Act 1990 (Variation Of Schedules) (Animals Which Are Protected) Order 2004. The lists of protected plants (Schedule 7), of birds protected by special penalties (Schedule 1) and of birds which may be killed or taken (Schedule 2) have been revised through The Wildlife Act 1990 (Variation Of Schedules) Order 2004. Up to date legislation is available from the Tynwald Library.

As a result of the changes to Schedule 2, a series of general licences were produced on 28th April 2004, to allow some activities that would have been illegal, but are on occasion necessary for the functioning of some industries or services. These were published in the newspapers and copies are available from the Wildlife and Conservation Division. They specify the authorised purpose for the use of the licence, the activity that is authorised, the species concerned, and conditions relating to each licence. No further application is necessary in order to use these general licences, so long as they remain in force, and so long as anyone taking action under the authority of a licence, does so for the specified purpose and follows the conditions given. A licence for the prevention of serious damage to crops by greylag geese (wild or feral) and Canada geese was amended in July 2007, extending the open season.

The Department also supports the management of important sites, including those with certain protected species, by entering into management agreements. Some endangered species require specific forms of management for their survival and are therefore theatened by changes in practice. Contact the Wildlife and Conservation Division for further details.