Freedom of Information Request - Grouse Moor Licences
Date: 04 December 2025
Our ref: SIR182382/A5591036
Information Request – Grouse Moor Licences
Your Request & Our Response
(1) Please can you outline the number grouse moor licence applications NatureScot receive annually? (Please can you break that down into the number received each year, over the last five years).
The Wildlife Management & Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 was introduced in 2024, licences have therefore only been issued from 2024 onwards.
• 2024: 265 licences
• 2025: 38 licences
(2) Please can you outline the number of applications for grouse moor licences that have been rejected because the area of land specified in the application was incorrect? (Please can you break that down by year over the last five years).
As above, licences have only been issued from 2024 onwards.
• 2024: Two applications did not provide grid references or maps; two applications were received for land outside of Scotland
• 2025: 0
(3) Please can you outline the number of grouse moor licences that have been revoked because a licence holder has been acting outwith the area specified on the licence? (Please can you break that down by year over the last five years).
None
(4) Please can you specify the number of offences that have been committed by licence holders on land outwith the application (please can you break that down by year over the last five years).
None that NatureScot are aware of.
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
