Goose management policy review 2022

Annex 2. Island Communities Impact Assessment

Review of Goose Management Policy 2022

Step One – Develop a clear understanding of your objectives:

• The objective is to review current goose management policy across Scotland and provide a set of recommendations to Scottish Ministers for future policy over the next 5-10 years.

• Consultation is required with stakeholders across the country
• Many of our islands support large numbers of geese, so although the policy is national, it will impact on island communities
• The policy applies equally across the mainland and islands.
• The policy is a refresh of policies which have been in place since 2000.

Step Two – Gather your data and identify your stakeholders:

• Current policy is delivered through a number of routes. In areas where there are concentrations of geese, local goose management groups are in place and these include key stakeholders in each location. There are currently local goose management groups in place in Orkney, Lewis & Harris, Coll & Tiree, Uist, and Islay.
• Consultation with HIAL over goose issues near airports has also taken place, covering all of the island airports.
• The initial online consultation process was open to anyone but further detailed discussions have been had with local groups
• The approach has been the same across the islands and the mainland

Step Three – Consultation

• We have consulted with stakeholders with an interest in goose management
• Online consultations, in-person and web based face to face meetings with local groups and national level consultations with key stakeholders have taken place
• The consultation applied equally across islands and the mainland.

Step Four – Assessment:

• The assessment does not identify unique impacts of goose policies specific to islands.
• The assessment does not identify any potential barriers or wider impacts specific to islands

You must now determine whether in your opinion your policy, strategy or service is likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities).

The policy review takes a national approach and focusses on goose management by species, conservation status and agricultural impacts, regardless of island or mainland location. Therefore it does not have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities). A full ICIA is, therefore, not required and the assessment moves on to Step Six.

Step Six – Making adjustments to your work:

• Should delivery mechanisms/mitigations vary in different communities? No, the policy is national
• Do you need to consult with island communities in respect of mechanisms or mitigations? Island stakeholders have been consulted at every stage as detailed in previous comments and will continue to be consulted specifically through local goose management groups and national stakeholder representatives.
• Have island circumstances been factored into the evaluation process? Yes, hence the use of digital technology to ensure effective communications.
• Have any island-specific indicators/targets been identified that require monitoring? No
• How will outcomes be measured on the islands? As part of the 5 yearly review process applied nationally
• How has the policy, strategy or service affected island communities? No differences in approach between islands and mainland