The Ferret ‘ The Scottish Government is under growing pressure to act after confirmation that 87 beavers have been shot under licence in the eight months since they were given official protected status. A report published on 28 May by the government’s wildlife agency, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), details shootings by farmers and landowners in Tayside in 2019. […]
This is welcome news coming on the damning – but much delayed – SNH report of the damage done by the Trump golf course. Highland Council’s decision to approve the Coul links golf course has now been called in for review. RSPB have welcomed this decision BBC ‘Scottish ministers are to scrutinise plans for an […]
Protecting the Loch Carron flame shell bed showed the way An important consultation on how we protect the wider marine environment Overview The project to improve protection given to PMFs outside the MPA network was initiated in May 2017. This followed an incident in Loch Carron in April 2017 when a flame shell bed was […]
SNH ‘Divers have discovered the world’s largest known colony of flame shells in Loch Carron in the Highlands. The small bivalve molluscs with fiery orange tentacles spend most of their lives hidden away inside nests. Now ministers must consider making emergency measures to protect them permanent. In 2012, 100,000,000 of the molluscs were discovered in […]
New guidance to help professionals assess the potential impacts of future development on Scotland’s coastal landscapes has been published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). With marine recreation and tourism expenditure in Scotland estimated at £3.7 billion per year, it is vital that development of our internationally renowned coastal landscapes is carefully managed. This guidance sets […]
A proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA) off Scotland’s west coast would help basking sharks, researchers say. Scientists from the University of Exeter and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) satellite tracked 36 basking sharks in summer months of 2012-2014 and found 86% showed “some degree of residency” in the proposed Sea of the Hebrides MPA. Sharks also returned year […]
Common skate and spurdog tracking project World’s largest skate and small shark followed in new west coast tagging study Downloads High-tech tracking devices are helping scientists to protect two of Scotland’s most endangered fish species in a west coast Marine Protected Area (MPA). Marine biologists from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Marine Scotland Science (MSS) […]
This project has produced a descriptive catalogue of 81 Priority Marine Features (PMFs) that have been identified in the seas around Scotland. The catalogue serves as a reference for ongoing nature conservation action. Descriptions for each PMF (including component habitats and species where appropriate) comprise an image, distribution map and short text outlining the characteristics, […]