Grouse shoot licensing consulted on ahead of new bill

Licensing of grouse shooting, increased regulation of muirburn, and stricter controls on traps including the banning of glue traps are among new proposals affecting wildlife and the environment now being consulted on by the Scottish Government.

The exercise precedes a planned Wildlife Management (Grouse Moor) Bill, which will aim to ensure that grouse moors are managed in a sustainable way.

Ministers are aiming to implement the recommendations set out in the Werritty review, an independent report which called for widespread changes to grouse moor management and the use of traps in Scotland.

Its recommendation for licensing of grouse shooting was a compromise proposal: it called for a scheme be introduced "if, within five years from the Scottish Government publishing this report, there is no marked improvement in the ecological sustainability of grouse moor management, as evidenced by the populations of breeding golden eagles, hen harriers and peregrines on or within the vicinity of grouse moors being in favourable condition".

Following the report, however, the then minister said the Government needed to act sooner and would begin developing a licensing scheme. Licensing will cover the activity itself rather than any particular individual or organisation. It will address the ongoing issue of wildlife crime, and in particular persecution of raptors on grouse moors, by enabling the application of a meaningful civil sanction regime for offences against wild birds and other specified wildlife crimes.

Environment Minister Mairi McAllan commented: "Over a number of years, the Scottish Government has introduced a wide range of measures to tackle wildlife crime including a poisons amnesty, restrictions on general licences and most recently, significant increases in penalties for wildlife crimes. 

"Despite these measures, the persecution of raptors persists in Scotland. That is why we commissioned the independent Werritty review and why we will now move to implement its recommendations in full.  

"I recognise that the management of grouse moors for grouse shooting makes an important contribution to the rural economy. However, it is clear that grouse moors must be managed in a sustainable and responsible way, ensuring minimal negative impact on other wildlife, and that we cannot tolerate raptor persecution by a destructive minority."

Access the consultation here. Responses are due by 14 December 2022.