Freedom of Information Request - Greenland White-fronted Geese and Mey Energy Projects
Date: 18 August 2025
Our ref: SIR181045/A5333239
Information Request – Greenland White-fronted Geese and Mey Energy Projects
Your Request
1. Any surveys, correspondence, reports or assessments undertaken or received by NatureScot concerning the presence of Greenland White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons flavirostris) in or around:
The Mey BESS site (ECU00004838),
The Field RIGIFA BESS site (ECU00005162),
The Hollandmey Wind Farm development area.
2. Any consultation responses, position statements or ecological advice issued by NatureScot to:
The Energy Consents Unit (ECU),
Highland Council,
Developers or their agents,
regarding the impact of these developments on Greenland White-fronted Geese or any functionally linked habitat, including Loch of Mey.
3. Confirmation of whether a Habitat Regulations Appraisal, Species Protection Plan, or any form of cumulative impact assessment involving these species and projects was undertaken or recommended.
4. Details of any internal discussions or communications within NatureScot relating to these developments and their proximity to known roosting or foraging areas used by Greenland Whitefronted Geese.
Site Context:
The Mey BESS and Hollandmey Wind Farm developments are located less than 1 mile from Loch of Mey, and the Greenland White-fronted Goose is a Schedule 1 protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. These sites are also known to be actively used by roosting and foraging geese during winter.
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is attached separately.
In response to Question 3, Habitat Regulations Appraisals (HRAs) are undertaken as standard for proposals which have connectivity with a protected site. This was undertaken for all of the named development proposals given their connectivity with Caithness Lochs Special Protection Area (SPA) (of which Greenland White-fronted Geese is a feature). As part of this, cumulative impacts are considered, using information at the time of assessment, which is based on information provided through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report, or an Environmental Appraisal, and other local information we are aware of. In relation to a Species Protection Plan (SPP), and specifically for the Hollandmey Wind Farm, we did not recommend this for Greenland Whitefronted Geese based on the information provided in the EIA Report and subsequent additional information from the Developer.
Please note, the EIA Report and supporting documentation submitted by the applicant, which will contain the survey and assessment received by us as part of the planning consultation, is publicly available from the Scotland Government Energy Consents Unit website.
The Gills Bay 132kV OHL Environmental Statement – Technical Appendix 8: Ornithology can be accessed on the Highland Council’s e-planning website using the reference 15/004103/S37.
Wider surveys for Greenland White-fronted Geese in this area undertaken by us, or those we have collaborated on, are publicly available at the following links:
- Greenland white-fronted Goose Study Group: Land use and conservation at small wintering sites in Scotland (i.e. the ‘Small-sites Report’). Information relating to Loch of Mey, Caithness is on pg. 72 of the PDF.
- NatureScot Commissioned Report 523: Survey of the feeding areas, roosts and flight activity of qualifying species of the Caithness Lochs SPA
We have redacted the mapped roosting sites of the Whooper Swan. As release of information under the EIRs is a release into the public domain, we do not believe that it is in the public interest to release information that might enable disturbance to these species. We are therefore applying EIRs Regulation 10(5)(g) – Protection of the environment.
We have also marked out (redacted) personal data in the documents provided. Releasing 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). We have withheld information outwith the scope of your request.
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
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
