Question reference: S6W-09328
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 24 June 2022
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 July 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the avian flu outbreak, what measures it is putting in place to manage wild geese.
Answer
Expert advice from virologists and epidemiologists within Scottish Government and the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA), shows that avian influenza is circulating widely in wild bird populations. There are very few effective interventions that will prevent the spread of the disease in wild birds. However, the Scottish Government, NatureScot and APHA have put in place a response plan which aims to:
- Ensure effective triage and testing is in place. This intelligence is used to link wild bird movements into national risk assessments and biosecurity measures, and identify any new species contributing to wider infection pathways.
- Provide advice on disposal of diseased carcases of wild birds.
- Monitor impacts on colonies/mortalities.
- Provide advice on access restrictions for bird ringing, research, licensable activities and land management activities.
- Develop future conservation/management plans for species affected by HPAI.
With regards specifically to geese; following the suspension of licences for goose management as I outlined in my response to S6W-09329 on 15 July 2022 and in all cases where licences to manage geese with lethal control were suspended, NatureScot made offers of support with non-lethal scaring to protect grass crops. That support generally was in the form of a contribution towards the purchase of scaring equipment such as gas guns and other bird scaring equipment.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .