Freedom of Information Request - Assessment of Loch Maree as a site suitable beaver translocation
Date: 20 November 2025
Our ref: SIR182182/A5576446
Information Request – Assessment of Loch Maree as a site suitable beaver translocation
Your Request
I note that NatureScot has recently put a public call out to stakeholders inviting them to suggest new catchments suitable for beaver translocation.
I would be grateful if you could send me recorded information relating to any consideration of Loch Maree in Wester Ross and the wider catchment for this purpose.
This may include, but should not be limited to, discussions between NatureScot officials and land managers in the area on the topic of beaver translocation or wider area studies undertaken by NatureScot staff.
Our Response
NatureScot currently has a call out to organisations, communities and land managers with an interest in hosting beavers to note this with us. To date we have had no expressions of interest for Loch Maree or the wider catchment. Staff at NatureScot have not had any discussions with organisations or individuals in relation to this area.
All mainland river catchments including the River Ewe, were included in a spatial analysis for the ‘Beavers in Scotland - Environmental Report Addendum 2022’. No further assessment has been undertaken since this was published. The full report is available from Beavers in Scotland - Environmental Report Addendum 2022 - see section 4 and Annexes.
NatureScot has reviewed its own landholdings in relation to beaver habitat suitability. The land we own at Beinn Eighe and Loch Maree Islands National Nature Reserves is not considered particularly favourable for beavers given the predominance of pine on the islands (which is not a preferred food source for beavers) and the lack of suitable waterbodies, scattered woodland and
steep ground on the hillside at Beinn Eighe. This review is attached separately.
We are developing a Scotland wide Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA), to help inform future beaver translocation applications. This assessment is Scotland wide and will consider the potential effects on designated interests within this catchment, but it is not specific to this area. We have withheld this under EIR exemption Regulation 10(4)(d) - Material in the course of completion, unfinished documents, and incomplete data (Environmental Information Regulations).
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
