Geese damage

MSP Alasdair Allan has met environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham over the damaging impact of greylag geese in the Uists.

Culls have ended allowing the geese population to increase again and devour crofters’ crops.

The government prefer a self-help approach rather the cull scheme but has only provided minimal funding.

Alasdair Allan commented: “While I think the adaptive management pilot demonstrated how local groups could manage geese numbers in the future, there was concern that Uist was not yet in a position to transition to this self-help approach.

“SNH has increased the funding available for the Uists and other adaptive management pilot areas to move towards a self-help solution.

“In order to help the transition to self-help and prevent any increase in goose numbers while the self-help approach is being developed, the Scottish Government is prepared to make available a further payment of £10,000 to help control greylag goose numbers in Uist during 2018/19.

“I was also pleased to hear that the Scottish Government will work with SNH to explore potential for further generation of income through goose carcass sales.”

He added: “Clearly there is a lot still to do before we can say that the numbers of greylag geese are down to anything like manageable numbers, and I will continue to raise this issue.”

Scottish Crofting Federation representative David Muir also attended the meeting.

He stressed ways must quickly be found to reduce the 6,000 goose population by two thirds

He pointed out the new menace of overwintering Barnacle geese. Up to 8,000 of the fowls cause extensive damage to grassland in North Uist.

Mr Muir said: They are heavily protected and, although we realise numbers can only be reduced through international co-operation, urgent action is required.”

Concerns over geese wreaking havoc on crofts

14 March 2018