Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser has called for a balanced approach to Beaver management following a statement on their future from the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government has decided, following a lengthy consultation, that the existing Beaver populations in Argyll and Tayside can remain and will now receive legal protection under the EU Habitats Directive. Beavers will also be allowed to move and expand naturally but farmers and land managers will have the right to actively manage these populations in order to minimise their impact on land. It will also remain an offence to release beavers without a license.
Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“This is a long running issue in Tayside with strong opinions on both sides. For some time, I have been arguing for a compromise approach whereby the existing beaver population would be tolerated, but farmers and land managers would have the right to control numbers where agricultural interests were threatened.
“It sounds like this is the approach that has been adopted by the Scottish Government. What we need to fully understand is what the government mean by “active management” and what measures farmers and land managers will be able to take.”