Scottish Government funded research confirms major socio-economic importance of grouse shooting to the Highlands
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A ground-breaking new study has highlighted that grouse shooting delivers significant socio-economic benefits, affirming its place as a much-valued upland land use.
Commissioned by the Scottish Government, the research shows that grouse shooting sustains many jobs and delivers high levels of local and regional investment while receiving no public funding.
The research has been published prior to the Scottish Government’s response to the independent review on grouse moor management known as the Werritty Review.
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation Scotland (BASCS) director, Dr Colin Shedden, welcomed the report.
He said: “This research confirms that grouse shooting, especially driven shooting, makes an enormous socio-economic contribution across the uplands of Scotland. Despite running at a net loss, driven grouse shooting enterprises boost employment and drive rural business.
“The research also highlights how sporting enterprises are entirely self-sustaining. While conservation enterprises rely on public funding for 79 per cent of its revenue, grouse shooting and deer stalking enterprises require no direct public funding whatsoever. The study affirms that an outstanding array of benefits are delivered on grouse moors at no expense to the public purse.
“The Scottish Government must consider the findings of this research when it formally responds to the recommendations of the independent review into grouse moor management later this year. The contribution made by grouse shooting is integral to rural Scotland, and every effort must be made to safeguard the lifeline it provides to upland communities.”
Liz Smith MSP, shadow cabinet secretary for the environment, climate change and land reform, said: “This research strongly evidences the socio-economic credentials of grouse shooting as an important and much-valued upland land use.
“Such is the scale of its contribution, it would be profoundly irresponsible of the Scottish Government not to consider the socio-economic implications of imposing unnecessary and damaging regulation on the sector when it formally responds to the independent review into grouse moor management later this year.”
