Wildlife laws for a modern Scotland - Legislation brought into the 21st Century
Scotland's countryside will be governed by laws responsive to the needs of a modern society now that Parliament has given it's backing to the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill modernises laws, some of which are almost 200 years old, and will help bring to account those who persecute wildlife. The main measures include:
* A new criminal vicarious liability offence to ensure that those who direct or turn a blind eye to bird persecution can be held to account
* Improvements that will enable Scotland to lead the way in adopting the internationally recognised approach to dealing with invasive non-native species
* Changes to deer management and provision for competence amongst deer stalkers
Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said: "This is a significant moment for one of our nation's greatest assets. Rural Scotland covers 95 percent of our land area and contributes so much to our daily lives. It is our responsibility to look after this land in a sustainable
manner. Some of the laws being updated by this Bill are almost 200 hundred years old and this legislation will take us into the future with a legal framework that is fit for purpose and tackles some of the most pressing issues facing our countryside today. We have taken a huge step forward in the prevention of wildlife crime by introducing a criminal vicarious liability offence. This will provide a deterrent for those who think they can get away with allowing the deliberate poisoning of some of our most iconic birds of prey, a practice that has been a blight on our nation for too long. The Bill also puts measures in place to protect against invasive non-native species which threaten our natural environment and cost the Scottish economy £245M every year. It will tighten the laws to prevent non-native animals and plants being released into the wider environment and will provide control powers to deal with problem species. The deer management system will be improved without imposing unnecessary burdens on those responsible.
Measures will be put in place to make sure that this is done sustainably delivering both private and public benefits. One of the most difficult aspects of developing this legislation was balancing the often conflicting demands that we put on our countryside. I'm delighted that MSPs have backed the measures in this Bill and I'm confident that we have guaranteed that our wildlife and natural environment will continue to be a huge source of pride for Scotland in years to come."
The Bill covers a wide range of areas, including: * Reform of ancient game laws including the abolition of outdated game licences
* New close seasons for hares * Compulsory training for snare operators * Snares must be tagged so they can be linked to the person who set them
* Updated species licensing regulations * New invasive non-native species laws including powers to take action to stop the spread of invasive non-natives
* Improved intervention powers for SNH where deer are not being managed and causing damage to the environment
* Provision for licensing of muirburn out of season, changes to the muirburn season to protect ground nesting birds and simplified notification procedures
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