BASC meeting Minister on Werritty Review

BASC has secured a meeting with Scotland’s environment minister, Mairi Gougeon, next month to discuss the findings of the Werritty Review.

After almost two and a half years, the Scottish Government’s official report into driven grouse shooting (DGS), compiled with Professor Alan Werritty as chairman of the review group – was published today.

The review calls for tighter controls around the use of medicated grit, muirburn and the management of mountain hares. It recommends total licensing of grouse shooting if breeding populations of raptors show no marked improvement within five years.

The measures will leave the grouse shooting sector engulfed by legislation and red tape and will mean a ‘seismic’ change for grouse moors across Scotland, according to a joint statement issued by BASC, Scottish Countryside Alliance, Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association, Scottish Association for Country Sports and Scottish Land & Estates.

“The sector has already willingly embraced change and improvements in how it operates,” the statement said.

“We believe further enhanced training and codes of practice covering muirburn, mountain hare management and medicated grit are the best solution rather than onerous licensing provisions.”

BASC Scotland will meet with Mairi Gougeon MSP, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, to discuss the recommendations in detail and make the case against wholesale grouse shoot licensing.

The Scottish Government has today said it will give “careful consideration” to recommendations, alongside other evidence, before issuing a full response.

ENDS