A permit system designed to regulate wildfowling at a Moray beauty spot could collapse after shooters refused to sign up for it.
The voluntary scheme was introduced at Findhorn Bay earlier this year following conflicts between hunters and environmental campaigners in previous seasons.
Moray Council leader George Alexander has already warned shooters that by-laws could be introduced to govern their hobby as a “last resort” if they do not abide by the new rules.
Last night it was revealed that only 18 permits have been issued in the first two months of the scheme. It is estimated that about 100 shooters visit the bay every year to shoot geese.
Wildfowlers have refused to take part in the scheme due to concerns about how personal information would be stored and anger at the system being developed without their input.
Yesterday, Mr Alexander urged shooters to put aside their distrust of the scheme in order to find an acceptable compromise without resorting to laws.
He said: “It’s clear that many shooters are refusing to take part in the scheme. It’s evident some are going out of their way to accentuate the fact they will not respect it.
“Clearly there will have to be a considerable change of approach over the next two months by many of the wildfowlers if the public are to be believed there’s any willingness on the part of many of them to accept change in the way shooting is conducted.
“Those who did not take part in the discussion did so of their own volition. Their continued refusal to give the scheme a chance to work can only make a more lasting agreement less easy to achieve.”
Moray Council has ruled out making a decision over future methods to regulate shooting at the bay until after the end of the season in February.
The voluntary permit system has split the wildfowling community – winning the backing of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation but the opposition of the Scottish Association for Country Sports.
Lisa Mead, a member of conservation group Friends of Findhorn Bay, said: “We always suspected that a voluntary permit system would not work, as there are four different shooting groups who have refused to agree on its terms.
“Frankly, they seem to be hell-bent on having the permit system watered down to the point where it is meaningless.”