Freedom of Information Request - Area wide gull licences in areas like Inverness and Nairn
Date: 03 September 2025
Our ref: SIR181317/A5395978
Information Request – Area wide gull licences in areas like Inverness and Nairn
Your Request
I am writing to ask to ask if you can provide the evidence and any documentary support for the contention below that:
“We know that there are significant concerns from people in areas like Inverness and Nairn about the decision to issue area wide licences this year”
Specifically, I am seeking:
Any internal or external communications, reports, surveys, meeting notes, or other records that provide the basis for the statement.
Details of any public feedback, complaints, or consultation responses that were used to substantiate the assertion.
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is attached separately.
To note, we have also received phone calls from members of the public expressing concerns that licences continue to be issued despite declines in gull populations. We do not record or log our calls however, so that information cannot be provided as part of this information request.
We have marked out (redacted) personal data in the documents provided. Releasing the personal data into the public domain in response to an access to information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. We are therefore withholding the information under EIRs Regulation 11(2) (Personal data).
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
