Committee
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 21 February 2024
21 Feb 2024 · S6 · Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
New Petitions
Recreational Drones (Use in Nature Reserves) (PE2050)
Agenda item 3 is consideration of new petitions. As always, I say to people who might be joining us to hear their petition being considered for the first time that, ahead of our first consideration, we invite the Parliament’s independent research body, SPICe—the Scottish Parliament information centre—and the Scottish Government to offer a preliminary view or to offer us any guidance. We take this action because, previously, that would be the first action that we as a committee agreed to take, which only delayed proper consideration of the petition. Our first new petition is PE2050, which was lodged by Lee Watson on behalf of Ythan seal watch. This interesting petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to amend the current guidance on flying recreational drones on national nature reserves so that use is prohibited without a permit; that permits include a flight time, date and agreed flight path; that operation is in accordance with the drone code; and that advice on the legal status of the wildlife and habitats is provided. The petitioner raises concerns that drones can be used both intentionally and unintentionally to cause disturbance to wildlife and can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of many species on national nature reserves, particularly on nesting birds and seal colonies. Aviation matters—to which drones are subject—are reserved. As such, aviation legislation, including drone-specific legislation, is the responsibility of the UK Parliament. However, NatureScot has powers to make and enforce byelaws for national nature reserves under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. In 2018, NatureScot and the partnership for action against wildlife crime in Scotland—PAWS—raised concerns about wildlife disturbance by drones. The Scottish Government’s response to the petition notes that existing law requires that licences are obtained where wildlife photography may disturb a protected species. The submission also states that the Scottish Government will ask PAWS to consider whether its guidance on drones and wildlife needs to be updated and republished. Given the increasing prevalence of drones, and the potential consequences of that for wildlife—both well intentioned and ill intentioned—this is an interesting petition. What do colleagues think?
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
Agenda item 3 is consideration of new petitions. As always, I say to people who might be joining us to hear their petition being considered for the first tim...
David Torrance
SNP
I wonder whether the committee would consider writing to NatureScot to ask for an updated view on concerns that it raised in 2018 about wildlife disturbance ...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I want to make one suggestion and to put one point on the record. The suggestion is that, because drones are fairly widely used for various purposes, many of...
The Convener
Con
I am grateful for all that. I wonder whether we might also write to the UK Government, since it is responsible for aviation. In this instance, I am quite int...
The Convener
Con
Thank you very much. That was an interesting petition. We will keep it open and we will undertake the inquiries that we have just set out.