Current status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the law in relation to the protection and management of seagulls.
The Scottish Government has no plans to review the law in relation to the protection and management of gulls.
NatureScot has responsibility for the issuing of licences under Section 16(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which permits the killing and taking of wild birds, including gulls, for specified reasons. These reasons include the preservation public health and safety, the prevention of bird strikes on aircraft at airports, and the prevention of serious damage to farmer's crops and livestock.
The Scottish Government has asked NatureScot to undertake a review of its species licensing functions. Further details about this review can be found on NatureScot’s website: Species Licensing Review - Terms of Reference | NatureScot