General licences restricted in light of wildlife crimes

These are the third and fourth such restrictions imposed by SNH. A property in Perthshire and an individual will have their licences restricted. They may still apply for individual licences, but these will be closely monitored.

General licences allow landowners or land managers to carry out actions which would otherwise be illegal. This includes controlling common species of wild birds, by shooting or trapping, to protect crops or livestock. General Licences are a light-touch form of regulation and they rely on trust. In situations where that trust has been lost, General Licences are not appropriate.

Mike Cantlay, SNH chair, said:

“We’re working hard to protect our birds of prey. Raptor persecution doesn’t just damage Scotland’s nature, it also affects tourism which in turn impacts on the economy. Yet, because of the remote locations where most wildlife crime takes place, it’s often difficult to prove. We’re committed to stamping out wildlife crime in Scotland, and will continue to work strongly in partnership with Police Scotland and other members of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW Scotland).”

Nature-based tourism is worth £1.4 billion a year to Scotland’s economy.

These measures will help protect wild birds in the area, while still allowing necessary land management activities to take place, but under tighter supervision. The three-year restriction will increase if more evidence of offences comes to light.

See the full licence restrictions details at http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/species-licensing/bird-licensing/general/

ENDS

Media queries - contact SNH media & public relations officer, Nancy Fraser, on 0131 314 6776 or nancy.fraser@snh.gov.uk (Mon & Tues) or the Inverness press office on 01463 725022.