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Sea Eagle Management Scheme
Farmers and crofters experiencing sea eagle impacts on their livestock are invited to join this scheme, which offers support for adapting livestock management and for trialling prevention measures.
The deadline for applications for support in 2023 is Sunday 31st July 2022
NatureScot runs the Sea Eagle Management Scheme on behalf of the National Sea Eagle Stakeholder Panel. If you have issues with sea eagles and wish to find out more about the scheme please see the information below.
The Scheme was revised in 2020 and we would encourage Farmers and Crofters affected by Sea Eagle predation to get in touch if they would like more information on the changes or to discuss management measures that can potentially be supported. Please note that the deadline for applications for support in 2023 is Sunday 31st July 2022
There is more information on Enhanced Shepherding, a new collaborative measure being trialled and supported under the revised Scheme. Please email the SEMS mailbox or phone 01292 294049 for further information.
Sea Eagle Management Scheme
The Sea Eagle Management Scheme extends support for livestock farmers and crofters who suffer impacts across the sea eagle breeding range. More information on the work of the Scheme can be found in the 2021 Annual Report and associated prey remains analysis report.
Following discussion with stakeholders, the Sea Eagle Management Scheme was revised in 2020 onwards with additional supporting information on the revised Scheme and relevant documents.
To support farmers and crofters, scheme advisers will:
investigate what sea eagle activity is occurring near to the farm
help to gather evidence of sea eagle impacts and record any livestock losses due to sea eagles or other causes
advise on measures to mitigate against sea eagle impacts
arrange to lend equipment, where appropriate, to use to deter sea eagles or otherwise mitigate impacts
recommend support for longer-term management agreed with and carried out by, the livestock manager
Land managers who carry out prevention measures as part of livestock management may receive financial support through long-term Management Agreements.
Management of the scheme
Local stakeholder groups set up across the sea eagle range manage the scheme, which we administer on their behalf.
Two stakeholder groups have initially been set up in Argyll and Lochaber and Skye and Lochalsh. Other groups may be established where demand arises.
Local stakeholder groups are represented on a National Sea Eagle Stakeholder Panel, which comprises:
NatureScot
National Farmers Union of Scotland
RSPB Scotland
Forest and Land Scotland
Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate
Scottish Crofting Federation
Scotland's Rural College
How to take part
Are you affected by sea eagle impacts? To take part in the scheme, fill out and return to us a Register of Interest form.
Our staff will arrange for someone to respond on behalf of the local stakeholder group.
Flock management log
You should record details of your flock management and lamb losses using our log template. Include any evidence of livestock predation. This will help your local stakeholder group to monitor sea eagle related incidents.
NatureScot is working with partners on the National Sea Eagle Stakeholder Panel to deliver the White-tailed eagle Action Plan.
The National Sea Eagle Stakeholder Panel have reviewed the 2017-2020 White-tailed Eagle Action Plan and published the Action Plan Extension for 2021-2024. The review document and the Action Plan Extension have been added to the links below. These documents look at what has been achieved through the previous Action Plan and set out the work that is proposed in the 2021-2024 period of the Action Plan.