BASC’s response to Scottish general licences consultation

NatureScot’s public consultation on Scotland’s general licences closed on 31 August. BASC submitted its response, supporting the continuation of the general licensing system. 

Thank you to everyone who completed our practitioners’ survey, which helped evidence our recommendations.

What BASC told NatureScot

Our response was clearly stated.

 

  • We do not support mandatory reporting as a blanket condition for general licences because that would create additional administrative burdens without necessarily producing reliable or meaningful data.

  • We recommended extending the general licences’ validity periods from one to two years.

  • We recommended keeping all the existing species on the three main general licences for the control of certain bird species (GL01, GL02, GL03). We also proposed the addition of various species. 

The species BASC proposes adding to the licences

The species we proposed to add to the general licences are as follows.

Proposed additions to GL01 – conservation of wild birds

  • Herring gull
  • Great black-backed gull
  • Lesser black-backed gull
  • Black-headed gull
  • Raven
  • Ring-necked parakeet

Proposed additions to GL02 – prevent serious damage to crops, livestock, etc.

  • Barnacle goose
  • Red-breasted merganser
  • Goosander
  • Cormorant
  • Raven
  • Ring-necked parakeet

Proposed additions to GL03 – public health and safety

  • Jackdaw
  • Herring gull
  • Lesser black-backed gull
  • Common gull

What happens next

We’ll update you again as soon as the outcome of NatureScot’s consultation is published.

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