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 Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture's biodiversity officers for advice as early as possible before any works. This may avoid delays later.

Some of the schedules to the Wildlife Act were revised in 2004. The list of protected animals (Schedule 5) was 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) were revised through The Wildlife Act 1990 (Variation Of Schedules) Order 2004. Also, in 2008, the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 brought in some changes to the wording of the Act. Up to date legislation is available from the Tynwald Library and new legislation will be posted on the legislation pages. See downloadable documents for the Orders noted above.

As a result of the changes to Schedule 2, a series of general licences were produced to allow some activities that would otherwise be illegal, but are necessary for the functioning of some industries or services. These were published in the newspapers and up to date versions are available on this website or from the Department. 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.

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 threatened by changes in practice. Contact the Department's biodoversity officers for further details.