Wildlife Management (Grouse) Bill
Last week the Scottish Government launched a consultation ahead of the “Grouse” Bill. However, this is a misleading abbreviation as it will cover a wide range of wildlife management issues affecting all rural sectors and beyond, meaning a compelling response from as many stakeholders as possible is needed.
- The grouse licensing part of the Bill is not just about the bigger driven grouse moors, it will affect even the smallest walked up “family” moors.
- The muirburn part of the Bill will affect all crofts and farms with hill grazing in all parts of Scotland.
- Tightening regulations around all types of live capture (cage and spring) traps will affect anyone practising predator control, from low ground shoots to farms and conservation bodies, as well as the many private individuals who control pests and invasive non-native species such as magpies and mink.
- Further regulations around the use of snares will affect all users and the Bill may even attempt to ban their use altogether, further limiting the ability to control the foxes which predate livestock and wild birds.
- A proposed ban on glue traps for rodents will restrict options for professional pest control work whether on farms or urban premises, potentially affecting the whole Scottish population.
- The consultation will also cover the possibility of the SSPCA being given extra powers to investigate suspected wildlife crime, again affecting the whole Scottish population given that even overzealous photography is classified as a wildlife crime.
The Bill consultation looks at first sight as something only to do with driven grouse moors, but that is categorically not the case.
Multi-purpose, wide-ranging Bills like this can become very complicated at the legislative stage, opening the door to late stage amendments with unintended consequences and far-reaching implications. The sheer volume and complexity of what is proposed will mean that many provisions are unlikely to be properly scrutinised and could be pushed through by a simple Parliamentary majority.
SLE will guide all members through the Bill in 2023, but the main principles will be informed by the consultation now running – we must generate a strong response. Everyone potentially affected by this Bill, including small grouse moors, farms and crofts, low ground shoots, conservation interests and predator/pest controllers has less than six weeks to respond and we would urge members to consider how they may be affected.
SLE and other organisations will submit comprehensive responses, but personal experiences and views do matter and the Government needs to hear them. We will issue bespoke guidance to members on compiling a response to the consultation on Wednesday 23 November.
We previously issued an Information Brief on 28 October 2022, which is available to view here.
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