Freedom of Information Request - Seagulls
Date: 27 May 2025
Our ref: SIR180035/A5163080
Information Request – Seagulls
Your Request
‘1 Please supply the Seagull population data that your current policy framework for Gull management is based on. This should include:
1.1 The data from surveys by Gull species by year since 2020 nationally across Scotland ;
1.2 The data from local surveys by Gull species by year since 2020 specifying which parts of Scotland were included in each survey;
1.3 Copies of all NatureScot papers to the NatureScot Board on the subject of Gull management since 2020;
1.4 Copies of all NatureScot correspondence between NatureScot and Scottish Government since 2020 on the subject of Gull management.
2 Please supply data and information regarding Gull management licensing as follows:
2.1 The number of licenses issued to authorised individuals, contractors, companies, public bodies, for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 until 30 April. This data should cover the Moray Council and the Highland Council local government areas by city, town and community.
2.2 The number of unsuccessful applications made to NatureScot by individuals, contractors, companies, public bodies, for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023,2024, and 2025 until 30 April. This data should cover the Moray Council and the Highland Council local areas by city, town, and community.
2.3 The NatureScot decision making policies being used by NatureScot staff whose responsibilities include Gull management licensing. This should include copies of operational documents being used , any internal governance, line management, and delegated management responsibilities being taken by NatureScot staff.’
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is below.
The data from surveys by Gull species by year since 2020 nationally across Scotland?
The information we hold on population estimates for Scotland, including trend information between the two JNCC seabird count censuses undertaken in 2000 and 2023, is attached separately. This Further information is available from the JNCC website.
The latest seabird breeding data is on the NatureScot website: Scottish Biodiversity Indicator – The numbers and breeding success of seabirds (1986 to 2023)
The associated news release - Seabird numbers in Scotland continue to fall.
Other sources of information that may be of interest:
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) seabird surveys project report
• British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Seabird Monitoring Programme
The data from local surveys by Gull species by year since 2020 specifying which parts of Scotland were included in each survey?
We have not carried out any local gull surveys since 2020. Some monitoring of gulls is done in Scotland by volunteers/birdwatchers, but we do not hold the information. Contact details and online Scottish Bird Reports can be found at the Scottish Ornithologists' Club (SOC) website.
Copies of all NatureScot papers to the NatureScot Board on the subject of Gull management since 2020/ Copies of all NatureScot correspondence between NatureScot and Scottish Government since 2020 on the subject of Gull management?
This is attached separately.
We have marked out (redacted) some personal data in the documents provided. Releasing the 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 also redacted some information which is not relevant to your request.
| Licence Type | Year | Licences Issued in Moray | Licences Issued in Highland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2020 | 52 | 142 |
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2021 | 313 | 268 |
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2022 | 238 | 221 |
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2023 | 278 | 296 |
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2024 | 103 | 39 |
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2025 (up to 30 April) | 6 | 6 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2021 | 1 | 2 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2022 | 5 | 1 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2023 | 2 | 1 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2025 (up to 30 April) | 0 | 0 |
| Air Safety | 2020 | 2 | 2 |
| Air Safety | 2021 | 2 | 2 |
| Air Safety | 2022 | 1 | 3 |
| Air Safety | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Safety | 2024 | 1 | 1 |
| Air Safety | 2025 (up to 30 April) | 0 | 0 |
| Licence Type | Year | Applications Refused in Moray | Applications Refused in Highland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2023 | 17 | 2 |
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2024 | 60 | 143 |
| Preserving Public Health and Safety | 2025 (up to 30 April) | 5 | 7 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2020 | 1 | 2 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2024 | 0 | 3 |
| Preventing Serious Damage | 2025 (up to 30 April) | 0 | 0 |
| Air Safety | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Safety | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Safety | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Safety | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Safety | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Safety | 2025 (up to 30 April) | 0 | 0 |
The NatureScot decision making policies being used by NatureScot staff whose responsibilities include Gull management licensing. This should include copies of operational documents being used, any internal governance, line management, and delegated management responsibilities being taken by NatureScot staff?
NatureScot’s decision-making process is based on a matrix management system. For Gulls licences we have Licensing Officers, Senior Licensing Officers, and a Team Manager.
Operational documents currently used are attached separately. We have marked redacted some personal data in the documents provided. Releasing the 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).
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).
