Current status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed how effective current legislation is regarding the management of seagulls in relation to any public health and safety concerns.
The Scottish Government has not formally assessed how effective current legislation is regarding the management of gulls in relation to any public health and safety concerns.
In previous years, NatureScot have seen a large number of applications submitted for gull management for public nuisance issues which is not a licensable purpose under Section 16(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. In response, NatureScot provided guidance this year on the differences between gull behaviours which result in impacts on public health and safety and that which is considered to be nuisance behaviour. They also provided further advice in relation to alternatives to licenced control. A copy of the guidance is available on NatureScot’s website: Species Licensing Review - Terms of Reference | NatureScot