Freedom of Information Request - Gulls License Rejections
Date: 26 May 2025
Our ref: SIR180122/A5166045
Information Request – Gulls License Rejections
Your Request
‘The most common reasons for gull licences (for gull management) applications to have been rejected in 2024 and 2025?’
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is below, based on a 01/01/2024 to 06/05/2025 date range.
Gull Health and Safety (H&S) licences?
All the gull H&S licences that were refused was based on either:
• failing to pass test 1, by not demonstrating that gulls were posing a risk to public health or public safety.
• failing to pass test 2, on the grounds there were satisfactory solutions available to be used to stop the gulls returning and nesting.
Gull Preventing Serious Damage (PSD) licences?
Most gull PSD licences were refused was based on:
• failing to pass test 2, on the grounds that not enough non-lethal deterrent methods were used to stop them returning and nesting.
One application failed to pass test 1, based on an unfounded link, confirmed by advice from Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture & our Ornithology advisers, that gulls pose a pathogenic risk to farming stock.
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
