Grouse shoots to be licensed

Grouse shoots in Scotland will have to be licensed under a new scheme to tackle the persecution of birds of prey.

New licensing laws will be introduced in the next parliament in a move that triggered an angry backlash from gamekeepers and landowners.

Critics said the move would harm fragile rural economies and play into the hands of those campaigning for an outright ban on the country sport.

A Scottish Governmentcommissioned review had said licensing should be introduced if there was no improvement in grouse moor management within five years.

The SNP’s rural affairs minister, Mhairi Gougeon, said the government had to act sooner to tackle “persistent issues” linked to grouse moors.

The review led by Professor Alan Werrity was announced after a NatureScot report found around a third of satellitetagged golden eagles in Scotland disappeared in suspicious circumstances on or around grouse moors.

Ms Gougeon said it was likely that NatureScot would oversee the scheme and if grouse moors were managed improperly their licences would be removed.

The proposals also include the licensing of muirburn – the burning of vegetation on moorland – in order to protect wildlife and habitats.

There will also be a statutory ban on burning on peatland, except under licence for strictly limited purposes, such as habitat restoration projects.

Amid concerns that birds of prey have been targeted in order to protect grouse populations, Ms Gougeon said she was unable to ignore the suspicious disappearance of raptors.

In a statement to Holyrood, she argued that a licensing scheme would strike “the right balance”, adding it was not intended to bring an end to grouse shooting.

“Those businesses which comply with the law should have no problems at all with licensing,” she said.

“But, crucially, where there is clear evidence that this is not happening , where agreed standards are not being adhered to or there is evidence of illegal raptor persecution, there will be a range of effective and transparent mechanisms in place to allow us to address such behaviour.”

Alex Hogg of the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association (SGA) said: “I am angry beyond expression at the way a community of working people is being

treated today in this country and the strain they and their families are constantly having to face as the y cope with ne verending scrutiny and

inquiry driven by elite charities with big influence over politicians and axes to grind against a people who produce so much for Scotland yet ask little back.”

ANGER: Gamekeepers’ spokesman Alex Hogg has expressed anger at the move.