Scotland’s grouse moors are worth millions to the nation’s economy, a study launched in Perthshire revealed as the grouse shooting season gets under way on August 12 the Glorious Twelfth.
The report, written by economists at Strathclyde University, shows how grouse shooting generates at least £23.3m each year for the rural economy and supports more than 1072 full-time jobs.
However, the number of birds actually being shot has almost halved since 2001, highlighting problems with predators and disease.
This has led to calls by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) for backing from the Scottish Government to ensure the industry’s future.
Director Dr Adam Smith said, “This report clearly shows that Scotland is benefiting to the tune of millions of pounds from economically active moors, where grouse shooting is the main aim.
“It is therefore a grave concern that grouse numbers appear to remain under pressure from predation, disease and future afforestation when shooting has such socio-economic benefits.”
The countryside charity hopes to see a change to “outdated” laws surrounding the protection of several species, including ravens, buzzards and badgers.
Currently, estate owners have “very limited” access to licences allowing them to control such predators, which the GWCT claims are no longer a conservation concern due to increased populations.
With around 50% of all heather moorland in Scotland not yet seeing investment associated with grouse shooting, there is a sense of urgency surrounding a need for policies that will support habitat management, predator and disease control, as well as legislation to encourage inward investment.Conservation concernsIn particular, southern Perthshire has struggled to maintain grouse populations and is at such a low level that there are now conservation concerns in the area.
Dr Smith told The Courier that one of the main challenges they now face is giving landowners the “confidence” to develop grouse moors on their estates.
“That confidence will come from an ability to address problems with predation in Perthshire,” he added.
“The grouse have reached such low levels on many moors that they are unable, using traditional methods, to break free from predation pressure.
“We are looking at some of the alternatives we could use to help these estates, including diversionary feeding of birds of prey so they don’t feed on grouse chicks.”
The outlook is much brighter in Angus, which is seen as one of the “most productive” areas, with as many as 200 braces being shot each day last year.
This comes after a huge commitment in the last five years by local landowners to improve the grouse habitat and control damaging factors, such as tick-related disease, leading to a dramatic improvement in numbers.
With driven grouse worth around £132 per brace, the number of birds being shot in Angus can bring in as much as £26,400 a day to estates in the area, as well as indirect income to businesses.Spending boostFor the managing director of the House of Bruar, near Blair Atholl, the grouse season regularly brings in more custom.
Patrick Birkbeck said, “Every year, in the week leading up to August 12, we see an increase in custom of 15% than in the previous week.
“If someone were to ask if that covers the grouse season it absolutely does. This can’t be the only reason behind the increase, but it has to be a key part of it.”
However, the Glorious Twelfth isn’t welcomed by everyone, with some animal charities criticising the sport as being “cruel.”ScepticismAnimal Aid director Andrew Tyler was quick to dismiss the publicised economic benefits of grouse shooting, telling The Courier he was “mistrustful” of the figures.
“Grouse shooting profits a small number of people, employs a small number of people and only a small number can take part because it costs an absolute fortune,” he said.
“These figures cannot be trusted and have to be approached with scepticism.
“I think it puts a lot of people off visiting these parts of the country.”