Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: business and regulatory impact assessment

6. Benefits

Option 1 – Do nothing

Glue traps

Glue traps are a cost effective method of controlling rodents, and there are public health concerns in certain high-risk situations that require effective and rapid action in order to reduce the spread of disease.

However, in their review on the issue, the SAWC found that this option was not supported by any of their stakeholder submissions or other sources consulted and was not consistent with the previously stated intention of the Scottish Government. All submissions supported either a prohibition on use by untrained individuals or a wider measure.

Wildlife traps, grouse moor and muirburn licences

On wildlife trap, grouse moor, and muirburn licensing, there are no additional benefits to be gained by retaining the current provisions.

Option 2 - Adopt the provisions of the Bill

Glue traps

On glue traps, the SAWC review found that this option appears to offer the most immediate positive impact on animal welfare, even while acknowledging that there are welfare problems with other techniques in current use, in particular rodenticides. The intended effect is to prevent the ongoing injury, suffering or distress to both target and non-target species caused by the use of glue traps.

Glue traps are single use and non-recyclable, and many of their alternatives are re-usable, so this option would reduce the amount of waste associated with pest control going to landfill.

The cost of alternative methods vary, in some cases snap traps can be cheaper than glue traps, however even if these were more expensive these alternatives are reusable and offer a long term saving.

Suppliers would be unlikely to benefit from the ban, but potentially, may benefit from an improved welfare image of pest control due to the ban of one of the more inhumane methods of pest control.

These provisions may encourage users to shift towards pre-emptive rather than reactive pest control, which could benefit those suppliers offering precautionary rodent control products and pest controllers offering precautionary pest control services. Manufacturers and suppliers of alternative rodent control products may see increased sales.

Wildlife traps, grouse moor and muirburn licences

The licensing of grouse moors will aid in the enforcement of wildlife crime, in particular, raptor persecution. The potential for a grouse shooting businesses to lose their licence is expected to act as a deterrent to illegal activity.

Media attention has been drawn to the activities of some grouse moor managers, mainly over the suspected killing of protected birds of prey, but also over the large-scale killing of hares and other animals, and over other aspects of moor management, such as muirburn, peat destruction and use of medicated grit. Some of these activities have repercussions well beyond the boundaries of grouse moors.

The introduction of licensing schemes for grouse moor, wildlife traps and muirburn, would reassure the public that the Scottish Government is taking these concerns seriously.

Licensing schemes for wildlife traps, grouse moor and muirburn offer flexibility in prohibiting unacceptable practices. Licences are able to be revoked or suspended depending on the conduct of the licence holder or those in connection with the land which is beneficial especially where a criminal offence may be hard to prove in a way that allows the criminal justice process to operate. This flexibility is also beneficial in terms of adopting an adaptive management approach, responding to changing understanding of the position and the factors that influence it, and of incorporating a number of important public objectives (e.g., climate concerns as well as biodiversity).

Transparent licensing schemes would assist those in the industry who already observe high standards. Obtaining and keeping a licence would be a visible sign that the activity is being sustainably managed in an acceptable way and that land is being managed appropriately, directing any public criticism onto those who are not doing so. The potential for meaningful consequences if standards slip would also offer public reassurance.

Lastly, the licensing schemes will allow for information to be gathered at national level, filling gaps in information highlighted by the GMMG report. The provisions in the Bill allow NatureScot set reporting requirements as a condition of the licences.

This will assist future decision-making at a local and national level and enable an adaptive wildlife management approach to be taken, responding to changing circumstances.