National Goose Forum minutes: January 2024

Attendees and apologies

• Sam Turner, SG (Chair) 
• Rae McKenzie, NatureScot
• Morag Milne, NatureScot (secretariat)
• Jessica Shaw, NatureScot
• Bill Dundas, RPID
• Ross Dunsmore, RPID
• Gillian Walker, RPID
• Nils Bunnefeld, Stirling University
• Lianne MacLennan, BASC Scotland
• Penny Middleton, NFUS
• Paul Walton, RSPB
• Steve Campbell, SASA
• Teresa Frost, BTO
• Donna Smith, SCF
• Aidan Bennett, Shetland LGMG
• Alastair Martin, Solway LGMG
• Brian Minshull; BGAG
• David Muir, Uist LGMG
• Donald MacKinnon, Lewis and Harris LGMG
• Luke OzanlavHarris, Exeter University
• Peter Isaacson, Tiree and Coll LGMG

Apologies:

• Hugh Dignon, SG
• Donald Fraser, NatureScot
• Richard Hearn, WWT
• Craig Archibald, Islay LGMG
• Peter Clark, BASC Scotland
• Alastair Watson, Orkney LGMG
• Alasdair Macnab, NFUS
• Nathan Bryceland, SLE

Items and actions

Items and Actions

Sam Turner welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The minutes of the last meeting (16 August 2023) were agreed. Action points from previous meetings are listed at Appendix 1.  

Action Point (AP): Morag will write to Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) to ask about their representation as Richard Hearn has not been unable to attend.

Action Point (AP): Morag will write once more to all who have promised to share documents or presentations with the National Goose Forum (NGF), to encourage them to do so. 

Goose policy review (verbal update from Sam Turner)

The Minister has considered the goose policy review. The Scottish Government anticipates its publication in February 2024 once it has undergone accessibility checks, and the document will be very similar to the draft shared with the NGF membership last year.  Key recommendations include:

• To continue to explore mechanisms to control resident greylag geese (extra funding was made available on 22 January 2024 to the Western Isles to control resident greylag geese)
• To be transparent about where and when funding is offered.

 The additional funding is welcome, but the last-minute nature of the offer has put Local Goose Management Groups (LGMGs) in a very difficult position. Discussion highlighted the important contribution crofting makes to delivering our national biodiversity targets, and how long-term support for resident greylag goose control is needed to enable crofters to continue to make these contributions. 

Sam outlined that it is expected that support will be awarded year on year for the next couple of years, because it is subject to availability of funds. LGMGs were disappointed to hear this news. There is an expectation that the Annex 1 Schemes will continue, and there may be a small amount of funding available to support resident greylag control. 

It was noted that in Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) corncrake options, derogation cutting has routinely been awarded to allow earlier cutting for crops where goose damage is experienced. It was suggested this is getting harder to obtain but the expectation is that if greylag numbers are reduced, the derogation will not be required. 

Next steps and delivery plan – Sam Turner and Rae McKenzie

Once the Minister has responded to the goose policy review, we will plan how to deliver the recommendations of the review. The national goose policy review team will reconvene to draft a delivery plan and to consult with LGMGs. The delivery plan is expected to be completed by 31 December 2024.

In the meantime, African Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) flyway plan development and delivery continues, airport staff have been contacted in connection with the AEWA flight safety task force, and NatureScot continues to support the delivery of goose schemes and to support LGMGs to control resident greylag geese. 

Greenland White-fronted goose – recent research – Luke Ozanlav-Harris, Exeter University

Luke provided a very interesting presentation about research that he had been involved with. In particular, trying to identify the drivers for population decline or stability in the Islay and Wexford Greenland white-fronted goose populations. He found that neither derogation shooting of Greenland barnacle geese nor ingestion of lead had any adverse effect on the Islay population of Greenland white-fronted geese. 

Action Point (AP): Morag will circulate a copy of Luke’s presentation.

Any other current business (AOCB)

The incidence of avian flu has been much lower in geese this winter, with many fewer casualties. NatureScot has been investigating the serology of infected populations.

Action Point (AP): Morag will circulate a recent research paper about avian flu in wild geese.

Peter noted rubbish disposal arrangements for Tiree and Coll have changed; instead of removing rubbish for disposal/processing on the mainland, waste will be buried on the islands. 

Action Point (AP): Peter will contact SEPA to ask for advice on goose carcass disposal.

Date of next meeting – in early May 2024.

Action Point (AP): Morag to canvass for dates for our next meeting in May 2024.

Morag Milne

5 February 2024

Appendix 1 Action points raised at previous meetings

Actions from 5 August 2021 meeting

Morag will circulate a link to Birdstrike’s report about the greylag corralling trial when NatureScot publish it.

Update at 31 January 2024

Outstanding. Pending publication of report.

Actions from 2 March 2021 meeting

David Muir asked if we had published our (early 2019) NatureScot economic appraisal of wildlife management. Rae offered to find out.

Update at 31 January 2024

Outstanding. The report has not been published. Ross Lilley will share a copy.

Actions from 14 February 2023 meeting

Morag will circulate a copy of Ross Lilley’s presentation about Future agricultural support mechanisms.

Update at 31 January 2024

Outstanding. Ross will provide his presentation.