The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 5) (England) Order 2008 has added four new species to the Schedule 5 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and has also extended the current protection afforded to the water vole. The order was made 21st February 2008 and comes into force on 6th April 2008.

The Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris) will have it’s previous limited protection status upgraded to general protection, protecting it against killing, injuring or taking; possession or control; damage or destruction of its places of shelter, or disturbance while such animals are occupying places of shelter, and sale, possession or transport for the purpose of sale, and advertising the buying or selling of such animal.

Spiny and short-snouted seahorses (Hippocampus guttulatus & Hippocampus hippocampus) will also be afforded general protection through the order, and the Roman Snail (Helix pomatia) and Angel Shark (Squatina squatina) will have limited protection status. 

The full text of the Order can be accessed from: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080431_en_1 
Source: www.opsi.gov.uk (accessed 03/03/08)

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