Freedom of Information Request - Sea Eagle Compensation Scheme
Date: 05 June 2025
Our ref: SIR180160/A5179403
Information Request – Sea Eagle Compensation Scheme
Your Request
Can you let me know please how many claims for sea eagles taking (live) lambs have been submitted in the last 5 years, and by year and by region. Can you advise how many lambs have been taken and the annual costs paid out in compensation annually?
Our Response
The Sea Eagle Management Scheme (SEMS) is a mitigation focused Scheme and does not pay compensation for lambs predated by white-tailed eagles or sea eagles as they are often known.
The Scheme provides support to farmers and crofters for a wide range of management measures aimed at mitigating predation impacts from white-tailed eagles on livestock. Payments to support mitigation measures are wide-ranging and cover standard and enhanced measures and are in the form of NatureScot Management Agreements. More information on the work of the Scheme can be found at Sea Eagle Management Scheme and Sea Eagle Management Scheme 2024 – Report for Stakeholders.
| Year | SEMS Participants | Value of mitigation support measures to farmers and crofters |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 102 | £190,275.19 |
| 2021 | 137 | £227,008.43 |
| 2022 | 158 | £265,980.83 |
| 2023 | 184 | £315,063.59 |
| 2024 | 194 | £345,515.55 |
| Area | Year - 2020 | Year - 2021 | Year - 2022 | Year - 2023 | Year - 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argyll & Lochaber | 41 | 51 | 64 | 74 | 81 |
| Strathspey | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Perth and Kinross | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Skye & Lochalsh | 45 | 63 | 66 | 76 | 73 |
| Small Isles | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Sutherland | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Wester Ross | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Western Isles | 7 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 24 |
To provide you with a complete response, we have broken your request down into its relevant parts and provided an answer to each part.
- Question - Can you let me know please, how many claims for sea eagles taking (live) lambs have been submitted in the last 5 years?
Answer – None, farmers and crofters do not make claims for sea eagles taking live lambs - Question – Can you advise how many lambs have been taken?
Answer – The Sea Eagle Management Scheme (SEMS) is not a compensation scheme where predated lambs are claimed. We also do not hold information on the number of lambs predated by sea eagles on an annual basis and it would not be possible to calculate a figure for this. - Question – Annual costs paid out in compensation annually?
Answer – The Sea Eagle Management Scheme (SEMS) is not a compensation scheme and does not pay farmers and crofters for predated lambs
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
