Freedom of Information Request - foraging and picking of wild plants, and harvesting of shellfish
Date: 19 May 2025
Our ref: SIR179911/A5140076
Information Request – foraging and picking of wild plants, and harvesting of shellfish
Your Request
‘I would like to submit a request for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 regarding foraging and picking of wild plants and harvesting of shellfish. Please provide the relevant information for the period between 1 April 2020 and the most recent date for which data is available.
Please could you provide the following:
1. The number of reports regarding foraging or picking of plants or shellfish that NatureScot has made to any UK prosecuting body. Please could you provide the following:
1. A yearly breakdown of the number of reports made to prosecuting bodies.
2. The number of fines NatureScot has issued for foraging or picking of plants or shellfish.
Please could provide the following:
1. A yearly breakdown of the number of fines issued for foraging or picking of plants or shellfish.
1. If a fine was issued, what was the amount (in pounds) of the fine.
3. The number of informal or formal reports (via email or phone calls) NatureScot has received concerning commercial fungi picking. Please could you provide the following:
1. A yearly breakdown of the number of informal or formal reports (via email or phone calls) NatureScot has received concerning commercial fungi picking.
4. Please provide any correspondence relating to suspected commercial harvesting of plants or wildlife on Sites of Special Scientific Interest.’
Clarified Request:
‘Yes, please (include seaweed).’
Our Response
A yearly breakdown of the number of reports made to prosecuting bodies?
In 2021, we reported one incident to the police involving mussel collection on the Dornoch Firth SSSI which was in breach of the Nature Conservation Order prohibiting shellfish collection. The suspects were identified by the police and given advice. It was small-scale collection.
A yearly breakdown of the number of fines issued for foraging or picking of plants or shellfish/ If a fine was issued, what was the amount (in pounds) of the fine?
None. We do not have any powers to issue fines.
We are an advisory not regulatory body for the wild harvesting of seaweed. We provide advice on sustainability and environmental impacts of seaweed harvesting activities to regulators and harvesters.
A yearly breakdown of the number of informal or formal reports (via email or phone calls) NatureScot has received concerning commercial fungi picking?
In 2024 one call was received.
Please provide any correspondence relating to suspected commercial harvesting of plants or wildlife on Sites of Special Scientific Interest?
We have no records of any correspondence in the last five years which relate to suspected commercial harvesting. We have not included requests for advice from developers/businesses, or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) consents, which in our view does not fall under reports of suspected activities.
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
