The opening shots of a revolution will echo around Lough Erne in just over three weeks' time.

After centuries of using lead shot in their cartridges, Fermanagh's wildfowlers will have to load up with an environmentally friendly alternative when the duck shooting season opens on September 1.

The problem with lead is that it is toxic and when used in cartridges, tiny pellets of it are deposited on the water and surrounding ground where it can poison wildlife. Waterfowl such as swans, ducks and geese, which feed around the shores of lakes, are particularly vulnerable as they can swallow the pellets when feeding.

As part of The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, or the Ramsar agreement as it is commonly referred to, the use of lead cartridges when shooting "on or over" wetlands will be banned from the beginning of next month. Most of Fermanagh would be wetland.

In response the BASC(British Association for Shooting and Conservation), the largest shooting organisation in the United Kingdom, has been offering advice to its members in Fermanagh and on Saturday hosted an information day at Florencecourt Clay Pigeon Club when members could try the alternatives. Dr. John Harradine, the BASC's director of research, travelled from England to explain the pros and cons of steel(it's actually soft iron), bismuth and tungsten.

He stressed that although the ban will have a major impact on the 350 wildfowlers in Fermanagh it also applies anyone shooting "on or over" wetlands, be they firing at clay pigeons, pheasants, rabbits or vermin, where there is water about.

"It covers quite a lot of shooting activity," he stated.

Dr. Harradine said the aim of the ban is to "minimise the exposure of waterfowl of spent lead shot". He explained that if birds swallow the pellets "its effect is mostly on the nervous system and other body processes".

He added: "In waterfowl it can harm the digestion of a bird and have a starvation effect." In the worst cases it can be fatal.

Some people have expressed concern that steel and tungsten, both of which are harder than lead, might damage their gun. Dr. Harradine said there was a "very low level risk" of a small bulging at the end of the barrel. He urged people to check with the CIP, the international proof commission, which offers information on the compatibility of various cartridges with particular types of barrel.

"The materials now available allow shooting to continue in all its forms," he emphasised.

He said it was the responsibility of individuals to realise the characteristics of the shot they are using and take that into account when shooting.

Some local wildfowlers have been doing just that and putting the alternatives to the test.

Peter Taylor, is vice-chairman of the Lough Erne Wildfowling Council, which manages the shooting rights to Lough Erne on behalf of DCAL(Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure). Along with fellow enthusiasts Mark Butler and Robbie Bridge he has experimented with the various types of shot.

As he pointed out, the ban is probably the most significant change in shooting in a couple of centuries.

"It will be a very big thing for us when you think of how long people have been shooting and using lead," said Peter.

Initially he found it hard to get an alternative but now at least two local dealers are stocking them.

He believes that for most wildfowlers steel will be the load of choice because bismuth and tungsten are prohibitively expensive.

"There are other non-toxic products you can use but they're too expensive for the ordinary person - up to £3 a cartridge, when you could probably buy a box of 25 lead cartridges for that," he pointed out.

He explained that steel is a third lighter than lead so by going up two shot sizes, say from six to four: "In theory that will have the same impact." Along with his fellow wildfowlers he carried out some tests on steel shot.

"We shot paper targets with it to test the pattern and telephone directories to test the penetration," said Peter.

By mounting sheets of paper and shooting at them from 40 yards Peter and his friends were able to see how the shot was distributed. The aim was to have 90 pellets within a 30 inch circle at that range in order to shoot a duck.

"Steel will do that. You can do that no problem with steel," Peter stated.

"We haven't tried it in the field. We won't know until September 1, but hopefully time will tell. It's down to the individual and their confidence. I'm pretty convinced myself from the basic tests we have done and what we have read that it will more than do our job," stated Peter.

Dr. Harradine added: "We would urge full compliance with the regulations because that's now the law and anyone looking advice or guidance to contact the BASC."