Freedom of Information Request - Wildlife Licences for film and tv production
Date: 31 January 2025
Our ref: SIR178567/A4975686
Information Request – Wildlife Licences for film and tv production
Your Request
Whether, in the past ten years (2014-2024), NatureScot has received requests for any kind of species licenses for the purposes of enabling film or television production to take place?
If the answer is yes, I would also like to know how many of each license type was granted/refused for the purposes of enabling film or television production to take place, and the year of each application and decision.
Our Response
Our Licensing Team have searched the information that they hold and have provided the following information.
2014 – Nil
2015 – Nil
2016 – Animal photography (1 application, 1 licence issued) - Bird photography (1 application, 1 licence issued)
2017 – Animal photography (1 application, 1 renewal issued) - Bird photography (2 application, 2 licence issued)
2018 – Bird photography (1 application, 1 licence issued)
2019 – Nil
2020 – Nil
2021 – Animal photography (1 application, 1 licence issued) - Bird photography (2 application, 2 licence issued)
2022 – Bird photography (1 application, 1 licence issued)
2023 – Animal photography (2 application, 1 licence issued, 1 amendment issued) - Bird photography (2 application, 2 licence issued)
2024 – Bird photography (3 application, 1 licence issued, 2 amendments issued)
Please Note:
Amendment – Licence amended in some way prior to expiry.
Renewal – Licence reissued at the same location after expiry.
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
