Category: News

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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)

The Scottish Government is expected to publish the long-awaited Werritty Review on grouse moor management today.

Rumours have been rife for the last 24 hours, journalists have been in touch, and the late submission (yesterday) of what could be seen as a ‘soft’ (Government-initiated) Parliamentary question (see below) suggests this will be the trigger for publication today:

S5W-26768: Gail Ross, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 18/12/2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish Professor Werrity’s report on grouse moor management.

More later….