Since March 2020, Marine Scotland Compliance has received a number of reports, involving 6 vessels, in relation to suspected illegal scallop dredging in MPAs or other closed areas.

Marine Scotland Compliance fully investigates all reports of suspected illegal fishing, including suspected illegal scallop dredging, to the extent that the evidence allows and appropriate action is taken where necessary.

Of the vessels involved, two have Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) equipment fitted and the others do not.

As a result of the impact of Covid-19, emergency hardship support of up to £21,370 per vessel paid to the owner, or up to £42,740 to businesses operating more than one vessel was made available to over 12 metre vessels landing shellfish. A list of successful business awarded funding is available here: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/competition/transparency/public.

Badgers, and their setts, are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which prohibits killing or injuring a badger as well as disturbance or destruction of their habitats.

Earlier this year the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protection and Powers) Act was passed by the Parliament, which affords badgers additional protection by increasing the penalties for the most serious crimes to a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

NatureScot provides advice to planners, developers, farmers and landowners on issues involving badgers, to help ensure that Scotland’s badger populations continue to thrive whilst mitigating any negative effects.

No decisions have been taken in relation to the formation of any advisory or steering groups in relation to the development of a licensing scheme for grouse moor businesses.

The Scottish Government and its agencies and public bodies undertake partnership work with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) through the following arrangements and projects:

National Access Forum

National Goose Forum

National Species Reintroduction Forum

Scotland’s Moorland Forum

Scottish Action Group on Non-Native Species

Scottish Snaring Technical Assessment Group

Working for Waders

Scottish Firearms and Explosives Licensing Practitioners Group

Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland

Lowland Deer Network Scotland

Deer Management Qualifications

BASC has a lease agreement with Forestry and Land Scotland to undertake deer culling work on the island of Arran. This was won via an open market tender exercise.

The Scottish Government will develop proposals for a licensing scheme for grouse moor businesses on a consultative basis, taking into account the views of all key stakeholders with an interest in grouse moor management, including environmental NGOs, land management and shooting organisations, animal welfare organisations and law enforcement. We expect this process to begin in January 2021 and to continue beyond March 2021.

The Scottish Government has regular dialogue with representatives from the farming sector and communities, principally through the Scottish General Animal Health and Welfare Stakeholder Group. This includes providing reassurance that the Scottish Government is confident that wildlife (badgers or other species) do not act as a reservoir of disease.

The Scottish Government will develop licensing proposals for grouse moor businesses as set out in the answer to S5W-33598, answered on 7 December 2020. The Scottish Government expects to carry out a public consultation on legislative proposals to implement the licensing scheme. The timing of the consultation will depend on the legislative programme for the next Parliament.

The Scottish Government has always maintained that any large-scale culling that threatens the conservation status of mountain hares is not acceptable and that we expect all land managers to act responsibly and with restraint during this transitional period.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33598 on 7 December 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Section 14 (2A) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 permits common pheasant and red-legged partridge to be released from captivity for shooting purposes. The Scottish Government has no plans to amend section 14(2A).

Gamebird releases within European protected sites are controlled through the Operations Requiring Consent (ORC) list. This means that land managers need to apply to NatureScot for consent to release gamebirds within the boundaries of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), where this may have an impact on the special features of nature conservation interest on the site. If the SSSI overlaps with a Natura site (which can be either a Special Protection Area or a Special Area of Conservation), NatureScot must carry out a Habitats Regulations Appraisal before consent can be given.

At present there is little evidence to show that gamebirds are causing damage to European sites in Scotland, however NatureScot will continue to monitor the situation closely.