Freedom of Information Request - Raven Licences
Date: 23 April 2025
Our ref: SIR179686/A5105950
Information Request – Raven Licences
Your Request
‘Can you please supply me with the following information.
1. How many licence applications to kill ravens in Orkney were received by NatureScot during the years 2020-2024 inclusive. Please provide the details by year.
2. How many licences to kill ravens in Orkney did NatureScot approve/issue during the years 2020-2024 inclusive. Please provide the details by year.
3. How many ravens in total did NatureScot's licences permit to be killed in Orkney during the years 2020-2024 inclusive. Please provide the details by year.
4. How many ravens in total were killed (according to licence returns) in Orkney during the years 2020-2024 inclusive. Please provide the details by year.
5. Please provide a list of all the reasons licences to kill ravens in Orkney were issued by NatureScot, during the years 2020-2024 inclusive (e.g. protection of lambing, protection of other livestock etc). Please provide the details by year.’
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is below.
| Year | Number of Licence Applications | Number of Licence Approvals | Number of Ravens Permitted to be Killed | Number of Ravens Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 8 | 8 | 50 | 42 (+ uncertainty as 2 licences did not submit returns) |
| 2021 | 9 | 9 | 43 | 18 (+ uncertainty as 1 licence did not submit a return) |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 2 (+ uncertainty as 1 licence did not submit a return) |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 15 |
| 2024 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 12 |
| Year | Licence Purpose |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 8 licences, all issued for the purpose of “Preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuff for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland water”. Specifics: • 5 licences – prevent damage to ewes/lambs • 1 licence – prevent damage to cows/calves • 2 licences – prevent damage to ewes/lambs, cows/calves, and silage bales |
| 2021 | 9 licences all issued for the purpose of “Preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuff for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland water”. Specifics: • 6 licences – prevent damage to ewes/lambs • 1 licence – prevent damage to ewes/lambs and silage bales • 1 licence – prevent damage to ewes/lambs and cows/calves • 1 licence – prevent damage to ewes/lambs, cows/calves, and silage bales |
| 2022 | 4 licences all issued for the purpose of “Preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuff for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland water”. Specifics: • 4 licences – prevent damage to ewes/lambs |
| 2023 | 4 licences all issued for the purpose of “Preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuff for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland water”. Specifics: • 2 licences – prevent damage to ewes/lambs • 1 licence – prevent damage to cows/calves • 1 licence – prevent damage to ewes/lambs and cows/calves |
| 2024 | 3 licences all issued for the purpose of “Preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuff for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland water”. Specifics: • 2 licences – prevent damage to ewes/lambs • 1 licence – prevent damage to ewes/lambs and cows/calves |
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
