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NatureScot announces changes to grouse licensing system
Changes have been introduced to the grouse licensing system in Scotland, impacting the area a licence applies to, as well as NatureScot’s power to revoke or suspend licences.
Two changes to the licence for land used to kill or take red grouse, referred to as the grouse licence, came into effect on 26 October. The Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 introduced the changes, which affect the licensed area and the area over which relevant offences could be considered.
The first change relates to the licensed area and allows NatureScot to suggest an alternative to the area of land covered by a licence.
The second change extends NatureScot’s powers to revoke or suspend a licence. The regulator can now suspend or revoke a licence where a relevant offence has been committed outside the licenced area, where it ‘supports or benefits activities permitted by the licence’.
Loopholes
NatureScot says the changes were introduced to close a loophole that could have allowed an applicant to license only a very small area of land, and to ensure that action can be taken when offences connected to the management of the grouse moor occur outside of the licensed area.
BASC Scotland director Peter Clark said : “We will monitor these changes closely and will be working to ensure that members are not disproportionately or negatively impacted.”
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