Douglas Ross claims gull attacks could be deadly if action to address problem across Scotland is not taken
Douglas Ross has claimed people could lose their lives as a result of being attacked by gulls if action is not taken to address the “growing problem” in Moray and across Scotland.
The Highlands and Islands MSP criticised NatureScot and the Scottish Government during a debate at Holyrood yesterday for failing to provide more “robust action” to protect humans and businesses from the “menace of dangerous gulls”.
It comes after Mr Ross shared stories of attacks including one of a constituent in Elgin who fell outside her home and broke her leg as a result of a gull attack before being attacked once again after returning from hospital.
The former MP for Moray led the debate after he submitted a motion stating that concern should be noted regarding reported changes to the approach taken for granting licences to control gulls in recent years by NatureScot.
He said the number of licences approved fell from 2041 in 2023 to just 505 in 2024, leaving “communities and businesses in Moray, Nairn and Inverness” with “significant problems with gulls”.
Mr Ross called for NatureScot to be stripped of its licencing control powers due to what he claims is “an inherent potential conflict” between the body conserving and preserving bird numbers and controlling the applications to regulate bird numbers.
“Those watching this debate will have been left deeply disappointed by the response from the SNP minister,” Mr Ross said.
“In typical nationalist fashion Jim Fairlie believes that another talking shop will solve all these issues when he could take action right now.
“The behaviour of the SNP’s quango NatureScot confirms they have lost the plot.
“They have told people to protect themselves with umbrellas and even suggested dogs as a deterrent.
“The time has come to breakup NatureScot.
“There is a clear conflict of interest in the fact they are responsible for considering licences to control gulls but are also responsible for protecting bird numbers.
“If the minister cannot see that is a problem, then he is divorced from reality.
“The strength of the cross-party support in my debate today should be all the SNP government need to finally act before we see someone killed due to being attacked by a gull.”
As gulls are a protected species it is illegal without a licence to harm them or to destroy their eggs, chicks or nests.
Sonic devices that hinder gulls from breeding have been used in Moray and the region’s local authority wrote to the Scottish Government last year asking for legislation to be altered to make it easier to remove nests and eggs in the area.
However, hopes of a ministerial intervention were dashed after Minister for Agriculture Jim Fairlie rejected the council’s request to make changes.
Following the latest debate, Inverness has been confirmed as the host of a summit on how to deal with the issue.
