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As set out in the answer to S6W-37296 on 13 May 2025, given the legitimate concerns from the local community a decision on the licence application was unable to be made ahead of the beaver kit dependency period.

This period offered an opportunity for further engagement to be undertaken to fully explore these concerns. NatureScot will publicise their decision on the licence once it has been determined.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The revised policy statement for the protection of natural features on Ramsar sites will be published on the Scottish Government web-site shortly.

As set out in published by NatureScot. we will support the identification of opportunities to expand beaver populations, and support the expansion of beaver populations through translocations.

Section 16A of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 allows Scottish Ministers to delegate their functions in relation to licenses under section 16 of that Act to NatureScot.

The Scottish Ministers delegated their species licensing functions to NatureScot in June 2011 via written direction. Assessment of licence applications is therefore the responsibility of NatureScot. Scottish Ministers retain the power to modify or revoke a direction. As part of this delegation, NatureScot is also asked to inform Scottish Ministers of any novel or contentious issues that may arise.

The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division has to date received 220 appeals against SEPA's sea lice control variation notices; more are anticipated. All 220 appeals are currently being checked and SEPA’s response to the grounds of appeal has been requested.

The final decision on how protections for Priority Marine Features (PMFs) will be implemented will be made by Ministers after the proposed fisheries management measures have been consulted on and the responses analysed.

Whilst the legislation to be used is yet to be decided it cannot be done through the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and use of Marine Conservation Orders (MCOs). MCOs can only be used to implement management measures in specific designated sites. These are nature conservation Marine Protected Areas, demonstration and research Marine Protected Areas, historic Marine Protected Areas and, any European marine site which overlaps these (either wholly or partly), which requires management measures.

The proposed PMF management areas will be fisheries closures with measures being introduced via a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI), allowing for Parliamentary scrutiny.

In responding, I must advise that licence applications to lethally control mountain hare before March 2021 were required for the previous closed season, however following passage of the Animals and Wildlife Penalties, Protections and Powers Scotland Act mountain hares are now a protected species and licence applications are required year round.

Licences to lethally control mountain hare have been issued for the following purposes since 2012; “Preventing serious damage to growing timber”, “Conserving any area of natural habitat” and “Science, research and education”.

Information determining if the land applied to the application is public or private is not held centrally.

As set out in their Beaver Management Report it is NatureScot policy to consider authorised populations and catchments where licensed release has already taken place are considered to form beaver’s natural range in Scotland.

Therefore, in considering the definition of ‘within range’ are essentially talking about catchments where there have been licensed translocations or reinforcements, or as in the case of Tayside and Knapdale the population has been officially permitted to remain, i.e. rather than a definition based on current distribution.

NatureScot’s Beaver Management Report sets out that, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, beavers released anywhere in Scotland are regarded as a ‘former native’ species outwith their native range and hence their release can only be carried out under licence.

Beavers are European Protected Species in Scotland, but the concept of ‘natural range’ comes from the European Commission Habitats Regulations Guidance, which only recognises populations that have been formally reintroduced.

The Beaver Management Report sets out that it is NatureScot policy to consider authorised populations and catchments where licensed release has already taken place are considered to form beaver’s natural range in Scotland.

At the current time the RIFGs remain our chosen mechanism for providing inshore fishers a strong voice in matters which affect them and a forum to discuss fisheries management issues. We will utilise the findings of the review to help address stakeholder concerns. This will complement changes that have been implemented to our Fisheries Management and Conservation (FMAC) group and subgroups following their own review, strengthening our two key stakeholder engagement networks.

In the longer term, the Scottish Government’s Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement (IFMI) programme seeks to transition our inshore fisheries management to a more agile model with co-management at its heart. We recently held a twelve week Call for Evidence to gather the expert input needed to help inform development of this landmark policy. The responses and supplementary evidence received during this call will be considered alongside an internal review of other international models of inshore fisheries management, including the English IFCAs. Together these will inform the development of a new model of inshore fisheries management for Scotland.

The Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement Programme, launched in 2024, aims to develop a more agile and regional inshore fisheries management framework. Our Call for Evidence on the programme closed on 18 February 2025 and the submissions received are currently being analysed.

This is a transformational project for inshore fisheries in Scotland, supporting delivery of locally appropriate management solutions. As such, the Scottish Government is not currently progressing proposals for a national cap on fishing activity in our inshore waters or reviewing the management of Scottish scallop entitlements.