Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not have any plans to establish a new scheme to assist farmers and crofters on Islay with goose management. The Islay Goose Management Strategy was developed with the full participation of farming representatives on Islay and implementation of the Strategy was started last year, through adaption of the current local goose scheme. The Strategy aims to reduce agricultural damage in the long term through a process of controlled population reduction alongside a range of other management actions to ensure the conservation status of populations of goose are not put at risk. The Scottish Government remains committed to the Management Strategy and believes it provides the best long-term solution for maintaining a balance between protecting internationally important populations of geese which support an important economic sector for the island, alongside a productive agricultural sector.