According to Niesen and Van Wetten, shooting makes no sense at all. “We have known for more than 25 years that the numbers do not decrease even with shooting,” says Niesen. “We can shoot them here, but if the population in other countries continues to increase, they will automatically come here again,” Van Wetten adds.
“It’s just a massacre”
According to Beemsterboer, intervention does make sense. “By shooting we have limited the number of geese in recent years. We have adapted our policy to: scientific research“, he emphasizes.
Goose expert and professor Maarten Loonen in 2021 already let NH know that he does not see firing as a long-term solution.
The Fauna Protection Society is strongly opposed and is taking the province to court. “There are now two cases pending against the province about the shooting of wild geese,” says Harm Niesen. “We also filed and won such a case in Overijssel.”
Jeroen van Wetten also hopes that the goose hunt will end soon. “It may be pleasant for farmers, but not for citizens. It is simply a slaughter. In addition, the Netherlands has an important international responsibility with regard to wintering geese. We cannot just shoot them.”
