New poaching initiative launched in scotland

L-r: Fergus Ewings MSP, deputy chief constable Iain MacLeod and Malcolm White, Atholl Estates' senior forestry ranger with the remains of a poached deer on Atholl Estates

By Selena Masson

Friday, 29 January 2010

The Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime Scotland is asking the public to help tackle the increase in poaching

In a fresh attempt to tackle poaching after reports that the number of incidents in Scotland had increased dramatically over the past 12 months, the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland last week introduced a new campaign to encourage the public to report incidents or suspicion of poaching to their local police or through Crimestoppers. Minister for community safety Fergus Ewing launched the initiative, hoping that it would raise awareness of the scale of the problem among the wider Scottish public.

Statistics from the National Wildlife Crime Unit show that reported incidents of hare poaching had risen by 120 per cent since 2008, deer poaching by 47 per cent and incidents involving the poaching of fish such as salmon had increased by 75 per cent. Figures for 2009 are expected to be even higher.

At the launch, Mr Ewing was shown recent evidence of deer poaching on Atholl Estates, where it is estimated that an additional 40 to 50 deer are taken illegally each year. He said: “I am concerned at the large rise in poaching and coursing in Scotland over the past year. These crimes involve serious, organised criminals and have a significant economic impact on rural communities across Scotland.”

The rest of this article appears in 27th January issue of Shooting Times.