Licences
Licences may be granted for:
- scientific research or education;
- photography;
- ringing or marking birds or animals;
- nature conservation;
- health and public safety;
- air safety;
- prevention of serious damage to property, crops, livestock, timber or fisheries;
- aviculture;
- taxidermy;
- falconry.
Sometimes it is possible to carry out actions restricted by law under licence, for instance to disturb a protected animal in order to make a wildlife film. Usually a licence will permit you to carry out the action providing certain conditions are met; in the case of the wildlife film, these would to ensure that the disturbance is minimal. Most licences are personal and are granted in response to an individual application. But general licences are also issued, for example allowing action to be taken against bird pests.
You can seek a licence to disturb protected animals or plants from Scottish Natural Heritage but only to carry out scientific research, for educational purposes, for photography, for marking wild animals or where action is being taken for nature conservation. SEERAD can grant licences authorising action to protect health and public safety and to prevent serious damage to property, crops, livestock, timber or fisheries. SEERAD can also grant licences for aviculture, falconry and air safety. DEFRA manage the registration scheme for the keeping of wild birds in captivity.