Author: RaptorPersecutionUK

Werritty Review: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says early licensing is ‘a serious consideration’

Further to yesterday’s long-awaited publication of the Werritty Review on grouse moor management (here), Nicola Sturgeon received two related questions during First Minister’s Questions in the chamber yesterday afternoon (available to watch on ScotParlTV here and read full transcript here).

Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green):

A month ago, the First Minister said to Alison Johnstone: “We will continue to take the right steps to protect wildlife, and will do that without fear or favour with regard to any vested interests or other interests.” [Official Report, 21 November 2019; c 21.]

We have waited more than two years for the Werritty review. Is the First Minister surprised that the representatives of the grouse shooting lobby she appointed to a review of grouse shooting have used their effective veto to sabotage what would otherwise be a clear recommendation to license grouse shooting?

The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon):

The Werritty review has been published and all members can look at its recommendations. The central recommendation on the timescale for moving to greater regulation was not unanimous—Andy Wightman is right to point to that. That is one of the reasons why the Government will take time to consider the recommendation. I want to be very clear that part of that consideration will be looking at whether we move to regulation on a much quicker timeframe. We will take the views of stakeholders before coming to a final view on that.

The option of a licensing scheme needs to be considered. If that is the view of stakeholders and we consider that necessary—as I said, that is a serious consideration—we will move to implement that earlier than the five-year timeframe that was suggested by the review group.

[Thanks to Mr Carbo for this illustration]

Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab):

Further to Andy Wightman’s question on the long-awaited Werritty report, and recognising the complexity of the issue and the need for sustainable development for rural Scotland—let us all recall that a fifth of Scotland is driven grouse moors—Scottish Labour is very disappointed that the report recommends a five-year delay, in a climate emergency and a biodiversity emergency, before consideration is given to licensing. Does the First Minister agree that now is the time to consult on licensing; the possibility of the ban on burning deep peat, with appropriate exemptions as one of a range of options; the outlawing of particular types of snares and the mass mountain hare cull; and a range of other issues? Now is the time to do it—not in five years.

The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon):

I answered that specific question in response to Andy Wightman, but I am happy to do so again. First, the Werritty review was independent of Government. It has made a set of recommendations, not all of which were unanimous, as has already been pointed out. We will give careful consideration to all the recommendations alongside other evidence before we issue a full response. As part of that, we will meet key stakeholders to discuss the review’s findings.

Secondly, on licensing, as I said very clearly to Andy Wightman, part of our consideration will be to move to a licensing scheme much earlier than the five-year timeframe that was suggested by the review group. We welcome the input of everyone who has an interest in the matter. We will issue our response to the Werritty recommendations as soon as we are able to do so.

ENDS

The First Minister’s words are encouraging and welcome, just like those of her Cabinet Secretary yesterday (see here) but to be perfectly frank, the early implementation of a licensing scheme for grouse shooting should really be ‘a no-brainer’ rather than being ‘a serious consideration’. The Scottish Government has promised action for years and years and years (see here for a timeline) – NOW’s the time to deliver.

Werritty Review: Scottish Wildlife Trust urges action ‘without unnecessary delay’

Further to the publication of the Werritty Review on grouse moor management this morning (here), the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) has joined other groups in calling for the Scottish Government to stop procrastinating and get on with sorting out the practices that ‘have a serious impact on our natural environment’.

There’s a strong and resolute message emerging in all these public responses which won’t have gone unnoticed by the Scottish Government.

The SWT’s statement is as follows:

SCOTTISH WILDLIFE TRUST RESPONDS TO GROUSE MOOR REVIEW

The Trust has responded to the publication of the review by the Grouse Moor Management Group, commissioned by the Scottish Government and chaired by Professor Alan Werritty.

Sarah Robinson, Director of Conservation, Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “This report highlights the serious impacts that unsustainable moorland management can have on Scotland’s uplands. We welcome the recommendation that the Scottish Government should signal its intent to introduce licensing unless bird of prey populations on or near shooting estates recover.

“We also welcome the acceptance from those representing the sporting sector that current practices fall well short of the standards required in modern Scotland, and when every part of our society has to work together to address the serious crisis facing nature.

“But, the report lacks detail on what the measures of improvement will actually be, and what resources will be available to monitor compliance. We call on the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage to set out what evidence they will use and what standards need to be met, to show whether regulation is required.

“Since this report was commissioned in 2017 there has been a groundswell in awareness that nature is in crisis. The current climate and ecological emergencies require swift and decisive action, and should mean the Scottish Government significantly shortens the five-year grace period that has been suggested.

“It’s important to remember that this report has come about due to the ongoing and unacceptable persecution of birds of prey in Scotland. We strongly support the recent announcements on tougher sentences for wildlife crimes, as well as increased resources for Police Scotland to be able to better respond to incidents.

“However, the issues surrounding moorland management go far beyond the illegal killing of wildlife. They include the burning of large areas of heather, and the unsustainable culling of mountain hares. All of these practices have a serious impact on our natural environment.

“We believe the Scottish Government should recognise there is an opportunity to restore Scotland’s iconic upland habitats to their full potential, and ensure action is taken without unnecessary delay.”

ENDS

 

Werritty Review: Scottish Greens slam it as a ‘weak washout’

Further to the publication of the Werritty Review on grouse moor management this morning (here), The Scottish Greens have slammed the report as a ‘weak washout’.

They’ve published the following statement:

GROUSE MOOR REVIEW IS WEAK WASHOUT

The Scottish Greens have branded the report of the Scottish Government’s high-profile review of grouse moor management a washout, after it failed to make any recommendation on licencing.

The long-awaited publication of the Werrity review was buried in today’s announcements by the Scottish Government.

The report recommends some regulation of muirburn, managing Mountain Hares and using medicated grit but falls short of recommending licensing, arguing that it would be “a political decision”.

Commenting, Scottish Greens environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell said: “This review was set up over two years ago to consider regulatory options including licencing, yet it has failed to come up with adequate solutions. In fact, it was clearly watered down at the request of vested interests. What a waste of time.

“In fact, this report throws up more questions than answers by proposing measures limited to certain species or techniques. A five-year ‘probationary period’ for specified raptors isn’t going to stop them disappearing around grouse moors.

“Meanwhile, up to a fifth of Scotland’s land has been kept barren and thousands of birds and mammals have been slaughtered to enable a cruel hobby of a very few people. This report is a weak washout that cow-tows to powerful vested interests.

“Scotland’s land needs to be freed up for the benefit of all of its people and used in ways that secures a sustainable future for our country. For example, our peatlands should be restored, not burned. The continuation of this barbaric practice makes no economic or moral sense in modern Scotland.”

ENDS

Werritty Review: response from OneKind

Further to the publication of the Werritty Review on grouse moor management this morning (here), animal welfare charity OneKind has issued a press statement:

Leading Scottish animal welfare campaigns charity OneKind has welcomed one of the recommendations in the newly-published Werritty Group report that users of traps should be legally required to undertake training, including refresher courses, and attach individual operator identification numbers to their traps.

The report makes a number of recommendations for improving the sustainability of grouse moors in Scotland including:

Recommendation 25

That new legislation should be introduced to make it a legal requirement that it becomes an offence to set or operate a trap without an operator having successfully completed a course run by an approved and accredited body and dealing with the relevant category of trap (cage and/or spring).  A trap operator who has successfully completed a relevant trap training course should apply to their local police station for a unique identification number which must be attached to all traps that are set.

Recommendation 26

That any operator dealing with the relevant category of trap (cage and/or spring) should undergo refresher training at least once every ten years.

OneKind Director Bob Elliot said: “Untold suffering is caused to thousands of animals each year due to trapping and killing on grouse moors. While we would prefer to see the Scottish countryside free of animal traps, we recognise that the Werritty Group recommendations for proper training in their use should become a legal requirement  We have seen far too many cases of target and non-target animals suffering in cage traps and spring traps, from magpies used as decoys in corvid traps, to small mammals struggling and slowly dying in supposedly lethal spring traps.

“We see these recommendations as a step in the right direction and we urge the Scottish Government to adopt and develop them.  It will be essential for training to include independent veterinary input on animal welfare, and for further requirements on trap inspection to be introduced.  Above all, we welcome the prospect of all traps carrying an individual identification number so that the specific operators of traps are accountable for their use”.

OneKind has lodged a Public Petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for an independent expert review of the welfare issues surrounding traps and snares, and has also recently published a report on trapping and killing, with the League Against Cruel Sports, as part of the Revive coalition.

Bob continued: “The main message OneKInd would send the Scottish Government following publication of the Werritty Group report is that it should proceed to license grouse moor businesses without further delay.  Welfare was not part of the Group’s remit and we have to accept that its reach is limited in that respect.  However, it has opened a door on further regulation of trapping and we will continue to pursue those issues.”

ENDS

Werritty Review: Scottish Raptor Study Group responds

Further to the publication of the Werritty Review on grouse moor management this morning (here), the Scottish Raptor Study Group (SRSG) has issued a statement:

The Scottish Raptor Study Group is pleased with the Scottish Government’s Independent Grouse Moor Review Group’s report and in particular the recommendation to introduce a licensing framework but the steps proposed are too timid and too slow. The proposals for regulations on muir burn are very welcome especially in these times of concern around climate change. We also warmly support the greater protection of mountain hares.

The strong-arm tactics of the grouse lobby were once again laid bare in the Chair’s Preface clearly demonstrating their sense of entitlement over the wider public interest and we trust the Scottish Government will not be cowed. Even when the review group were considering their findings the killings and ‘suspicious disappearances’ of birds of prey across some driven grouse moors continued unabated, clearly demonstrating that the grouse lobby feel that the law does not apply to them.

We are keen to hear how the Scottish Government might resource such a licensing framework to ensure the regulator has the necessary powers for both pro-active compliance and effective enforcement. Without the fear of detection and subsequent investigation there is little incentive to comply with any new licensing regime, which is the situation we see today with bird of prey crimes.

The Scottish Raptor Study Group calls upon the Scottish Government to immediately implement the licensing of driven grouse moors to finally and decisively crack down on this sector for the benefit of Scotland’s birds of prey, our environment and the wider public interest. Over many years Ministers have stated their revulsion at the illegal persecution of birds of prey and had pledged to take decisive action, well now is the time.

ENDS

Werritty Review: Revive Coalition responds

Further to the publication of the Werritty Review on grouse moor management this morning (here), the Revive Coalition for grouse moor reform has published a statement:

WERRITTY REVIEW HAS BEEN A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Revive, the coalition for grouse moor reform has voiced its disappointment over what it is calling “a missed opportunity” to improve management practices on grouse moors.

The Scottish Government commissioned Grouse Moor Management Group published its report today (Thursday) led by Professor Alan Werritty. A review of grouse moor management practices was ordered by the Scottish Government in 2017 with a view to introducing a licensing scheme for game-shooting estates. The group was tasked to look at the environmental impact of grouse moor management practices such as muirburn, the use of medicated grit and mountain hare culls and advise on the option of licensing grouse shooting businesses.

Campaign Manager for Revive Max Wiszniewski said: “We are deeply concerned that the Werritty Commission has failed to recognise the severity of the damaging problems with grouse moor management in its current form, and has missed the single biggest opportunity in our generation to take significant action to reform Scotland’s grouse moors for the benefit of our economy, our people, our environment and our wildlife.

“Huge swathes of Scotland are grouse moors which, under intense management programmes result in barren landscapes devoid of the majority of naturally occurring flora and fauna. These moors instead are surrounded by a circle of destruction intended to wipe out anything which pose a threat to red grouse, which are effectively farmed to be shot for entertainment.”

The report has recommended that a licensing scheme be introduced for the shooting of grouse, within five years from the Scottish Government publishing this report, but only if 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 a favourable condition. On muirburn, mountain hare culling and the use of medicated grit the report recommends increased regulation of these activities.

Max Wiszniewski added: “We are now looking to the Scottish Government to take these recommendations and strengthen them, as currently while there are some positives within the report, overall it is a missed opportunity and a disappointing conclusion to an important and lengthy process.”

ENDS

Werritty Review: grouse shooting industry predicts ‘rural Armageddon’

Further to the publication of the Werritty Review on grouse moor management this morning (here), a joint statement has been published by the usual suspects in the grouse shooting industry.

It’s pretty clear that they recognise the game’s finally up – they simply haven’t done enough to clean up their industry, despite years and years of warnings and opportunities.

We’ll be taking apart the details of this statement in due course but for now, just enjoy what Ian Thomson (Head of Investigations, RSPB Scotland) has amusingly described as ‘the wailing, gnashing of teeth and warnings of rural Armageddon’.

Joint press statement from Scottish Gamekeepers Association, BASC, Scottish Countryside Alliance, Scottish Association for Country Sports and Scottish Land & Estates (19 Dec 2019):

Grouse shooting review will mean ‘seismic’ change for moors in Scotland

Rural organisations said today that the recommendations of a government-commissioned review of grouse moor management will mean a ‘seismic’ change for grouse moors across Scotland.

Following publication of the review group’s report, a joint statement was issued by: British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Scottish Countryside Alliance, Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association, Scottish Association for Country Sports and Scottish Land & Estates.

“The recommendations of the Werritty Review will mean a seismic change for grouse moors across Scotland.

“This report has recommended a barrage of measures that will leave the grouse shooting sector engulfed by legislation and red tape. On top of that, penalties for wildlife crime in Scotland are about to get much tougher.

“The sector has already willingly embraced change and improvements in how it operates.  We believe further enhanced training and codes of practice covering muirburn, mountain hare management and medicated grit are the best solution rather than onerous licensing provisions and we will be seeking an urgent meeting with government to discuss these key areas.

“The review group has recognised that there is no case for the banning of driven grouse shooting. They also accepted that licensing of grouse moors in general is hugely contentious, complex and unnecessary at this time. Nor is there scientific evidence to justify such a measure. Should it be introduced in the future, it would push an important rural business sector beyond breaking point.

“Grouse shooting plays a vital role in helping to sustain communities and delivers multiple social, economic and environmental benefits. It would be a tragedy if the massive private investment that underpins these benefits is put at risk by a package of regulatory measures that will herald fundamental change.

“Scotland already has the most stringent laws to deal with raptor persecution in the UK and they’re about to get even tougher with proposed jail sentences of up to five years and wide-ranging new financial penalties – which we support. There has been huge progress in recent years to combat raptor persecution and incidents are now at historically low levels. We are committed to playing our part to help eradicate the problem but are deeply concerned that law-abiding rural businesses will be buried under an avalanche of regulation and added costs as a result of this review. That may well force people out of business and put families’ livelihoods at risk.

“At a time when climate change and the environment is of paramount importance, we take great pride in the environmental and conservation contribution made by grouse moors through carbon capture and the careful management of Scotland’s much-loved heather clad landscape. Inflicting an even greater burden on moorland managers would jeopardise this.

“We welcome the fact that the review recommends greater transparency and independence around the satellite-tagging of birds of prey. However, its proposals do not go far enough in seeking to create an open and accountable system.”

ENDS

Werritty Review: response from RSPB Scotland

Press release from RSPB Scotland (19 December 2019) in response to today’s publication of the Werritty Review on grouse moor management in Scotland.

Independent grouse moor review does not go far or fast enough to tackle raptor crimes

We support the recommendations relating to regulation of muirburn and better safeguards for mountain hare populations, however regret that panel behind the report has not been bold enough to recommend the immediate licensing of driven grouse moors.

Previously Scottish Government Ministers have publicly stated that driven grouse moor owners are ‘in the last chance saloon’, and we now expect these commitments to be honoured.

Given the overwhelming evidence of serious organised crimes perpetrated against our birds of prey, as well as the harm caused to upland habitats and species by grouse moor management practices, we will be asking the Cabinet Secretary to consider the ‘wider societal views’ mentioned by Professor Werritty and make the necessary ‘step change’ to grouse moor licensing, conditional on legal and sustainable practices, and to ensure that this is done as soon as possible. A licensing framework would in our view set a new direction for the legal and sustainable management for large areas of our upland landscapes, as well as providing a meaningful deterrent to wildlife crime.

[Photo: satellite-tagged hen harrier Rannoch was found on a Perthshire grouse moor earlier this year – her leg had been caught in an illegally-set spring trap so she’ll have suffered an horrendous death. Photo by RSPB Scotland]

Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management at RSPB Scotland, said: “We commend Professor Werritty and his panel for pulling together such a significant volume of scientific evidence and stakeholder testimony which we will consider in detail. However, we are concerned that more urgency is now needed to address the criminality and poor land management practices on Scottish grouse moors that have been highlighted for decades.

“It is very important to remember that the background to this review was the overwhelming evidence base of the link between serious organised wildlife crime and grouse moor management; the ever-intensifying management of this land to produce excessive grouse bags leading to the killing of protected wildlife; as well as public concerns about huge culls of mountain hares; and burning of heather on deep peatland soils. Addressing these issues is now even more essential to combat both the climate emergency and nature crisis, which were confirmed as priorities by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier this year.”

Duncan added: “The illegal killing of Scotland’s birds of prey simply has to stop. Those perpetrating these criminal acts have shown no willingness over decades to change their criminal behaviours. Letting this issue languish for another half decade will not help, and we fully expect more prevarication. Even whilst this review has been underway serious and well-publicised wildlife crimes have continued unabated, and delay fails to acknowledge the most urgent circumstances which led to its commission. The Scottish public have had enough. It is now vital that the next steps by Scottish Government are sufficient to bring closure to these appalling incidents, which blight Scotland’s international reputation.”

ENDS

Notes:

  1. It is now 20 years since Scotland’s first First Minister, Donald Dewar, described raptor persecution as a “national disgrace”. Subsequently successive Environment Ministers have promised to take firm action if illegal behaviours on grouse moors are not stopped.
  2. The formation of the Werritty Grouse Moor Review Group was announced by the Cabinet Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, in May 2017, following the publication of a Government-commissioned report examining the fates of satellite-tagged golden eagles. This report showed that of 131 birds tracked between 2004-16, 41 disappeared in ‘suspicious circumstances’, primarily on land managed as driven grouse moors. This was the latest in a succession of scientific reports that have conclusively demonstrated the harm that grouse moor management is causing to various bird of prey species and to mountain hare populations. Scientific reports have also confirmed the damage caused by muirburn (burning of heather on open moor) to Scotland’s peat soils – which act as vital carbon stores and are critical to combating climate change.
  3. RSPB Scotland has made the case to the Review Group that grouse moors should be licensed with the sanction to remove licences to operate where raptor and other wildlife crime is occurring to the satisfaction of the public authorities. This action would act as a genuine deterrent to wildlife crime.
  4. RSPB Scotland has also called for the cessation of large-scale mountain hare culls and muirburn on peatland soils. RSPB Scotland believes that licensing of grouse moors should also put in place a framework involving all stakeholders to protect these important public interests in the way our upland landscapes are managed in the future.

Werritty Review: encouraging response from Environment Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham

Further to the publication of the Werritty Review on grouse moor management this morning (here), Environment Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has made an encouraging statement in a Scot Gov press release, as follows:

GROUSE MOOR MANAGEMENT: LICENSING OPTION UNDER CONSIDERATION

A review into grouse moor management has recommended the introduction of a shooting licensing scheme if breeding populations of raptors show no marked improvement.

The review, which was chaired by Professor Alan Werritty, Professor Emeritus of Physical Geography at University of Dundee, was asked to examine how we can ensure that grouse moor management continues to contribute to the rural economy while being environmentally sustainable.

As well as the recommendation that a licensing scheme is introduced for the shooting of grouse if there is no marked improvement in the ecological sustainability of grouse moor management, the report also makes a number of other recommendations relating to common grouse moor practices, such as the use of medicated grit and muirburn.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

“I would like to thank Professor Werritty and the other members of the Grouse Moor Management Group for undertaking this important review and for their extensive work over the last two years.

“As well as the issue of raptor persecution, the review was asked to look at grouse moor management practices including muirburn, the use of medicated grit and mountain hare culls and also to examine regulatory options including possible licensing of grouse shooting businesses.

“It is important that we give careful consideration to the recommendations, alongside other evidence, before issuing a response. An important part of this will involve meeting key stakeholders to discuss the findings of the review, and we will publish a full response to the report in due course. At this early stage, however. I believe the option of a licensing scheme will need to be considered and – if required – implemented earlier than the five-year timeframe suggested by the review group.”

[Photo insert by RPUK – in 2018 after the suspicious disappearance of golden eagle Fred in the Pentland Hills Roseanna Cunningham told Chris Packham in an interview that grouse shoot licensing had been talked about by the Scottish Government since 2009. It’s ten years on – time for action now, not in another five years. Photo by Ruth Peacey].

Professor Werritty said:

“When I accepted the invitation from the Scottish Government to lead an expert review on grouse shooting, I had not fully appreciated the complexity of the issues involved, the passion with which contrasting views were held, or the length of time the review would require.

“Our remit invited us to make recommendations to reduce the illegal killing of raptors but at the same time to give due regard to the socio-economic contribution that grouse shooting makes to Scotland’s rural economy. Both topics have proved complex and problematic.

“In order to have a unanimous recommendation on this key issue with the authority that implies, the Group proposes a five year probationary period for specified raptors on or near grouse shooting estates to recover to a favourable conservation status. Should this target fail to be achieved, licensing should be introduced immediately. We all agree that it is the only way forward in that situation“.

Background

The Grouse Moor Management Group was established in November 2017. It was commissioned by the Scottish Government in response to a report from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) which showed that around one third of tagged golden eagles had disappeared on or around driven grouse moors.

The group’s report can be found on the Scottish Government website.

ENDS

 

Werritty Review published: unanimously recommends grouse moor licensing but wants 5 year delay

The Scottish Government has this morning published the long-awaited Werritty Review on grouse moor management.

You can download it here: Werritty Review_Nov2019

The key recommendation is that the panel unanimously recommends a licensing scheme for shooting grouse in Scotland but inexplicably suggests a five-year moratorium of this measure to allow the grouse shooting industry to get its act together – a last chance saloon, if you like. Industry figures will be familiar with this saloon – they’ve been quaffing free champagne in there for decades.

On a first skim of the executive summary, this proposed delay has no justification other than to appease the grouse-shooting reps on the supposedly ‘independent’ panel.

As far as we’re concerned another five-year delay is totally unacceptable. If the panel has accepted the need for reform, which it has, unanimously, then reform needs to begin now.

So far, the Scottish Government has not published its response to Werritty’s report. [See update at foot of blog]

Much more analysis on this to come….

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Werritty Review: encouraging response from Environment Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham (here)

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Eagles at risk after landowning lobby delays licensing of grouse shooting (article in The Ferret, here)

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Werritty Review: response from RSPB Scotland (here)

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Werritty Review: grouse shooting industry predicts ‘rural Armageddon’ (here)

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Raptor slaughter will continue following “washout” grouse shooting report (article in Third Force News here)

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Scottish grouse moor owners face mandatory licensing (article in Guardian here)

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Werritty Review: Revive Coalition responds (here)

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Werritty Review: Scottish Raptor Study Group responds (here)

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Werritty Review: response from OneKind (here)

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Werritty Review: Scottish Greens slam it as a ‘weak washout’ (here)

UPDATE 19 Dec 2019: Werritty Review: Scottish Wildlife Trust urges action ‘without unnecessary delay’ (here)

UPDATE 20 Dec 2019: Werritty – a long wait for not very much (Mark Avery’s blog here)

UPDATE 20 Dec 2019: Werritty Review: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says early licensing is ‘a serious consideration’ (here)

UPDATE 21 Dec 2019: Werritty Review: a surprising response from GWCT (here)

UPDATE 21 Dec 2019: BBC interviews Professor Alan Werritty (here)

UPDATE 2 Jan 2020: No, Magnus, the Werritty Review does not threaten gamekeepers’ jobs, wildlife crime does (here)

UPDATE 19 Jan 2020: Professor Werritty to give evidence to Environment Committee on grouse moor reform (here)

UPDATE 12 Feb 2020: How much did the Werritty review cost & why is it so difficult to find out? (here)

UPDATE 19 May 2020: Full cost of Werritty Review finally revealed (here)

UPDATE 14 August 2020: Cross-party political pressure on Scottish Government to respond to Werritty Review on grouse moor licensing (here)

UPDATE 18 November 2020: Werritty Review – one year on & still waiting for Scottish Government response (here)