Feral Wallaby & Feral Goat Populations

Summary

A request was made for specific population counts and a report regarding feral wallabies and goats following a 2024 drone survey. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the information directly, citing that it was already reasonably accessible via a public news article.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 2024-11-06 and responded to on 2024-11-19.
• The authority is the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.
• The information was withheld under Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The authority directed the requester to a Manx Radio article for the data.
• The survey in question was an island-wide drone survey conducted in April 2024.

Data Disclosed

• 2024-11-06
• 2024-11-19
• April 2024
• around 1000
• 4242457

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information reasonably accessible)

Original Request

I have just seen a YouTube video of the Island-wide drone survey that you conducted of feral wallabies and goats in April of 2024. 1. How many feral wallabies were recorded? 2. How many feral goats were recorded? 3. Please can I see a copy of the report?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 4242457 19 November 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 6 November 2024, which states:

I have just seen a YouTube video of the Island-wide drone survey that you conducted of feral wallabies and goats in April of 2024.

1. How many feral wallabies were recorded?

2. How many feral goats were recorded?

3. Please can I see a copy of the report?

Section 20
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee.
The information that you have requested is available here:

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/around-1000-wild-wallabies- thought-to-be-living-on- island/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3Eca1vTrV5a6fX1BmdBjCo80cODQBTgRTauh fmyWXO0OyrId6jkRxf3lI_aem_cKL2c20oG4-n5Xki3iUZqA

Please quote the reference number 4242457 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are

dissatisfied with this response and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on:

1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or
2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.

In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision.

More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im.

Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely