Tuesday 10 September 2024, 10:30 – 12:30
Teams meeting
Welcome and introductions
Colin MacPhail welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Minutes of last meeting and actions
The minutes from the meeting last DMRT meeting on 26th March were agreed.
Hugh Dignon (Scottish Government) gave an update on the outstanding AP from the last meeting which was to provide an update from DEFRA on non-lead ammunition and the phasing out of lead ammunition. This is currently out for second stage of consultation under UK REACH. Expecting a view to be shared within a month with a view to the National Authorities deciding whether legislation is needed with a transition period of approximately three years to a ban on non-lead ammunition.
Update from Strategic Deer Board (SDB)
Donald Fraser (NatureScot) gave an update on the most recent SDB meeting. The most substantive parts of the agenda were the proposed new deer legislation and the incentives to complement this.
SDB also discussed the how to increase the accessibility of deer management on public land to ensure a fair approach across all types of landowners, including public bodies.
Donald also updated on cross-working between NatureScot and RPID. This work aims to extend NatureScot’s geographic reach to request cull return information from a greater number of properties by April 2025.
SDB also considered how it could further influence incentivisation in the future.
Managing Deer for Climate and Nature: consultation report and new legislation update
Hugh Dignon signposted the publication of the recent analysis report following the consultation on Managing Deer for Climate and Nature. https://www.gov.scot/publications/managing-deer-climate-nature-analysis-consultation-responses/pages/2/
Hugh also updated on the Programme for Government which confirms the bringing forward of a Natural Environment Bill, which includes deer provisions. This Bill will be taken forward this Parliamentary year however there is currently no detail on timings as this depends on the Parliamentary timetable. It is anticipated that the Rural Affairs Committee will lead on the Bill.
It was noted that whilst there is opposition to Deer Management Nature Restoration Orders, SG remain of the view that new powers are needed for nature and climate. The exact form of these powers (ie DMNROs) is something SG will give active consideration to – particularly around key concerns such as the thresholds and triggers for implementation. However, how the Bill is progressed will ultimately be a Parliamentary decision.
NatureScot Operational Regulation update
NatureScot provided an update on landscape-scale operational priorities through the Operational Workstream of the SDB.
NatureScot updated on the current Section 7 areas; Caenlochan and North Ross where positive progress is being made. The Section 8 process at Loch Choire is with SG following one objection to NatureScot’s notice of intent being received. SG and the Minister will consider next steps in terms of upholding the objection or progressing the Control Scheme.
Deer management pilot incentive schemes
NatureScot and CNPA provided an update on the three incentive pilot schemes. Uptake for the South Loch Ness and Central Belt schemes has not been as significant as expected so the schemes will remain open for longer than planned and efforts will be made to understand what the barriers to uptake are.
Significant work has been put into the development of the NatureScot Deer App to support the mechanics of these schemes. The Deer App has the potential to support compilation of cull return and additional data at the national scale in the longer term.
Detail on the Incentive Pilot Schemes being run by NatureScot can be found on our website: https://www.nature.scot/deer-cull-incentive-schemes-launch-help-tackle-nature-and-climate-crises#:~:text=The%20schemes%20will%20start%20in,develop%20any%20future%20incentive%20schemes. With more detailed guidance here: https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/land-and-sea-management/managing-wildlife/managing-scotlands-wild-deer/deer-management-incentive-scheme-pilots
Food Standards Scotland Update
Elena McWatt updated DMRT on an increase in interest for more Approved Game Handling establishments that FSS is seeing. EM also indicated FSS interest in exploring the development of a UK register of hunters, with a view to this being in place by Sept 2025.
AOB
Discussion on recent Ferraro & Hirst (2024) paper on the practice of leaving deer carcasses on the hill: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2688-8319.12356.
Agreement in principle that the WDBP steering group would be the avenue for taking this discussion forward further if updates to guidance were considered necessary.
Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be 10:00-12:00 on Tuesday 17 December. Venue or online to be confirmed nearer the time.
Actions
AP – NatureScot to share additional analysis of cull return data to understand distribution across different parts of the sector – with a view to understanding progress towards meeting 50K annual increase in culls
AP – NatureScot to report back on a meeting with Police Scotland where DVCs and approaches to the dispatch of injured deer is on the agenda
AP – SG to come back to ADMG on the issue of the consultation question on incentives that was published on the original (pdf) consultation document but was omitted from the final online document.
Attendees (as on 4 September)
| John Bruce | Lowland Deer Network Scotland (LDNS) |
| Doug McAdam | WDBP |
| Peter Clark | BASC |
| Jake Swindells | Scottish Countryside Alliance |
| Jenny Greaves | Scottish Forestry |
| Mike Flynn | SSPCA |
| Nadia Flaherty | Scottish Land and Estates |
| Ross Ewing | Scottish Land and Estates |
| John Fletcher | Veterinary Deer Society |
| Alex Hogg | SGA |
| Alan McDonnell | Trees for Life |
| Grant Moir | CNPA |
| Al Monkman | BDS |
| Hazel Forrest | SWT/LINK |
| David Muir | Scottish Crofting Federation |
| Elena McWatt | FSS |
| Duncan Orr-Ewing | RSPB / LINK |
| Ben Pacholek | Police Scotland |
| Richard Cooke | SVP |
| Harriet Donald | LLTNPA |
| Niall Evans | LANTRA |
| Linzi Seivwright | ADMG |
| Hugh Dignon | Scottish Government |
| Tom Turnbull | ADMG |
| Anton Watson | FLS |
| Dan Watson | NTS |
| Colin McClean | CNPA |
| Mike Cottam | CNPA |
| Donald Fraser | NatureScot |
| Jamie Hammond | NatureScot |
| Lousie Farmer | NatureScot |
| Holly Deary | NatureScot |
| Colin MacPhail | NatureScot Board member – Chair |