Wildlife crime in Scotland: 2019 annual report

7. Scottish Government

This section sets out details of specific projects carried out by or on behalf of the Scottish Government over the time period of this report.

Animals and Wildlife (Penalties Protections and Powers) Bill

Following a consultation on wildlife penalties over the summer of 2019, the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers)(Scotland) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 30 September 2019 by Roseanna Cunningham, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform.

The Bill amends various pieces of legislation to increase the maximum penalties for certain wildlife offences and to increase the time available for the police to investigate these crimes.

The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee held six evidence sessions, concluding on 17 December 2019.

Grouse Moor Management Group

The Grouse Moor Management Group was established in November 2017 in response to SNH research that found almost a third of golden eagles being tracked by satellite died in suspicious circumstances and that the majority of cases were where land is intensively managed for driven grouse shooting.

The final report of the group made a number of recommendations, including the introduction of a licensing scheme and was published on 19 December 2019.