Question reference: S4O-02193
- Asked by: Jean Urquhart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
- Date lodged: 22 May 2013
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Current status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 May 2013
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Scottish Natural Heritage regarding the impact of greylag geese on agricultural land and the possibility of introducing a mechanism for the sale of greylag geese.
Answer
My officials have had extensive discussions with Scottish Natural Heritage and with stakeholders represented on the National Goose Management Review Group regarding the impact of greylag geese on agricultural land and possible solutions to limiting their impact on certain Scottish islands, including the trialling of adaptive management techniques.
At the request of farmers on Orkney, Scottish Natural Heritage is working on the development of a scheme to permit the limited sale of wild goose carcases under licence, provided an effective and proportionate system of identification and control can be established.
We are required to consult with the European Commission before putting any such scheme into practice and we intend to start those consultations very shortly.