Chamber
Plenary, 15 Mar 2007
15 Mar 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Red Deer (Rum)
I will come on to that. I spoke to Andrew Thin yesterday, so my information about SNH's current plans is up-to-date.
I want to concentrate on why Rum was designated a protected island, the implementation of the management plan, and the long-standing research that is being carried out on Rum. As colleagues have observed, the red deer on Rum are not native to the island, but were reintroduced in 1845 after having become extinct. Since that time, they have been in a refuge and, as a result of that and the fact that they are protected from interbreeding with red-sika hybrids, we have been able to study the long-term development of one of our most iconic species.
As colleagues have said, there are other refuges in the outer Hebrides as well as on Arran, Islay and Jura, and most of Britain's estimated population of one third of a million are to be found in the Highlands and Islands. Getting the number of deer in a given area right depends on an assessment of the number of deer the area can support. While I was preparing for this debate, I found it interesting to examine SNH's 10-year management plan, which was approved before the Parliament was created and was intended to ensure the effective management of nature conservation on the island. I am told that it was assumed in 1998 that the number of deer would be brought down to a much lower level than is currently the case. Over the years, SNH has carried out a maintenance cull to keep deer numbers at the current level of 1,200 animals.
Colleagues have talked about the problems with deer. There are no natural predators on the island and culling is the most important means of controlling them. If there are too many, there will not be enough food and real problems will arise, as has happened in other parts of Scotland.
I want to concentrate on why Rum was designated a protected island, the implementation of the management plan, and the long-standing research that is being carried out on Rum. As colleagues have observed, the red deer on Rum are not native to the island, but were reintroduced in 1845 after having become extinct. Since that time, they have been in a refuge and, as a result of that and the fact that they are protected from interbreeding with red-sika hybrids, we have been able to study the long-term development of one of our most iconic species.
As colleagues have said, there are other refuges in the outer Hebrides as well as on Arran, Islay and Jura, and most of Britain's estimated population of one third of a million are to be found in the Highlands and Islands. Getting the number of deer in a given area right depends on an assessment of the number of deer the area can support. While I was preparing for this debate, I found it interesting to examine SNH's 10-year management plan, which was approved before the Parliament was created and was intended to ensure the effective management of nature conservation on the island. I am told that it was assumed in 1998 that the number of deer would be brought down to a much lower level than is currently the case. Over the years, SNH has carried out a maintenance cull to keep deer numbers at the current level of 1,200 animals.
Colleagues have talked about the problems with deer. There are no natural predators on the island and culling is the most important means of controlling them. If there are too many, there will not be enough food and real problems will arise, as has happened in other parts of Scotland.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S2M-5492, in the name of Jamie McGrigor, on Rum's red deer. The debate will be concl...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes that the red deer is an iconic part of the image of Scotland; further notes that, because of its isolation, the red deer herd on Ru...
Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I am grateful to the BBC's "Landward" programme for alerting the public to the subject of this debate. The programme is a great champion and watchdog of rura...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
The island of Rum contains one of the oldest-known sites of human habitation in Scotland and it was not so long ago that it had a population of well over 400...
John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
As Jamie McGrigor said, the red deer on the island of Rum are a unique breed. Extensive culling of the deer population, as is proposed, would be a retrograde...
Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green):
Green
I thank Jamie McGrigor for bringing this topic to Parliament. I am sure that many of us have received e-mails and letters from people—not just from the Highl...
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Sarah Boyack):
Lab
I, too, congratulate Jamie McGrigor on securing this members' business debate. Given the wide public debate on and media interest in the matter, it is approp...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
No. I confess that I was tempted to intervene on the member's speech but, at this point, I would rather keep going.I urge all colleagues to make their consti...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
With regard to the number of deer on Rum, Andrew Thin, in an e-mail to the Scottish Gamekeepers Association dated 25 May 2005, said that he was not sure why ...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
I will come on to that. I spoke to Andrew Thin yesterday, so my information about SNH's current plans is up-to-date.I want to concentrate on why Rum was desi...
Mr McGrigor:
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
I might take an intervention later.Deer influence the composition and structure of vegetation. That has to be managed by those who are looking after the feat...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
No—
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
I am sorry. Fergus Ewing may disagree, but that is what I have been told.
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
Has Sarah Boyack ever been to Rum?
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
Yes, I have been to Rum.
Mr McGrigor rose—
Con
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
Some additional tree planting will take place this year in line with the current management plan. That will be done in areas where deer density is currently ...
Mr McGrigor:
Con
Thank you. The terrain on Rum is no more difficult than lots of places on the mainland. There are several ways of building fences. There is conventional fenc...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
There is no suggestion that SNH is refusing to use deer fences around plantations. It is avoiding them because of landscape impacts, hindrance to recreationa...
Meeting closed at 16:49.