Licensing grouse shooting must not jeopardise jobs and conservation
Rural organisations have issued a joint statement following the Scottish Government’s proposals to introduce a licensing scheme for grouse shooting.
Crucial Value of Shooting report to be launched at Scottish Game Fair
A new report which underlines the importance of shooting and conservation to Scotland’s economy and the environment is set to be launched at Scone later this week.
Tomorrow, Friday 5 July, BASC will formally launch the Value of Shooting report in Scotland at a reception at the Scottish Game Fair with the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP.
The report highlights shooting as a key component of the Scottish rural economy. It goes hand-in-hand with conservation of the countryside, as well as bringing both mental and physical health benefits to participants, and providing a healthy and sustainable food source.
The new Value of Shooting report was commissioned by 24 rural organisations and carried out by Cognisense, a market research and data analytics firm. The new research has taken a more comprehensive and detailed approach than previous reports, attaching a value to contribution in kind (CiK) and supply chain value, which shows that £9.3 billion of wider economic activity is generated for the UK economy as a whole.
The Value of Shooting in Scotland
The report sets out the following headline figures for Scotland specifically:
- Shooting in Scotland is worth £340m (GVA) to the UK economy every year, and the equivalent of 5,600 jobs.
- Approximately 68,000 individuals in Scotland are actively involved in shooting-related activities.
- Shooting in Scotland generates £780m of wider economic activity in the UK economy.
BASC Scotland director Peter Clark said: “Shooting is exceptionally important for Scotland, providing a £340m boost to the Scottish economy annually.
“From Aberdeenshire to Ayrshire, our members’ hard work shows that the shooting sector punches well above its weight in terms of economic value.
“We must not forget the wider spin-off benefits of shooting, ranging from rural jobs to the occupancy of country inns and hotels.
“BASC will continue to lobby and collaborate with the Scottish Government and other rural stakeholders to ensure a lasting contribution well into the future.”
For more information on the Value of Shooting and to read the report in full, visit valueofshooting.co.uk.
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