Question reference: S6W-24742
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 24 January 2024
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Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many beaver licences were issued by NatureScot in the last five years, broken down by the (a) year issued, (b) category of the licence and (c) duration of the licence.
Answer
The following tables set out how many Beaver licences were issued in the last five years; broken down by the (a) year issued, (b) category of the licence and (c) duration of the licence:
Category of Licence | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Preventing Serious Damage (PSD) Prime Agricultural Land (PAL) | 62 | 16 | 96 | 27 | 39 |
Preventing Serious Damage (PSD) (Other land) | 4 | ||||
Conservation | 2 | 0 | |||
Preserving Public Health or Safety (PPHS) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
PPHS/IROPI | 5 | ||||
Science, Research, Education | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
Conserving wild birds, plants, animals or introducing them to a particular area | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
Preserving public health or public safety or other imperative reasons of overriding public interest including those of a social or economic nature and beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment | 3 | 3 | |||
Preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, property or fisheries | 3 | 3 | |||
Total | 67 | 24 | 107 | 38 | 51 |
Duration of Licence (days) | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
1-200 days | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
200-700 days | 12 | 5 | 46 | 15 | 36 |
>700 days | 51 | 13 | 58 | 20 | 8 |
Total | 67 | 24 | 107 | 38 | 51 |
Note: not all licences issued are for lethal control.
A further breakdown of the duration of licences days can be obtained from NatureScot.