This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Halting the invasion of alien species
15/11/2006
A consultation has been launched on proposals to make it an offence to sell a range of non-native animal and plant species in Scotland, including Parrot's feather, the highly destructive Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed.
It is also proposed to make it an offence to release from captivity, or in the case of plants, allow to grow in the wild. These include wild boar, the domestic European ferret, the Chinese mitten crab and certain species of parakeets, cotoneaster and crayfish.
Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin said:
"Invasive, non-native species are one of the single most important threats to biodiversity in Scotland, posing a serious risk to our unique flora and fauna and our economic interests such as forestry, fishing, and farming.
"Some species, like Rhododendron ponticum, are already prevalent in the Scottish countryside, pushing out native species and threatening habitats. Others are not yet having the same impacts, but it is important that we do what we can now to protect Scotland's wildlife. Once established, non-native species are very difficult and costly to control or eradicate.
"While we do not intend to make extensive use of the power to ban sale, it is entirely right that that we ban those species that pose an unacceptable risk to Scotland's diverse mix of wildlife and habitats. I hope that everyone who thinks they will be affected by these proposals will make their views known through the consultation."
Non-native species can compete with native wildlife by:
- predation
- degradation of habitats
- introduction of new parasites
- hybridisation
The species listed in the consultation are either already causing considerable damage to Scotland's natural environment or are considered likely to do so.
Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA) (as amended by the Nature Conservation Scotland Act 2004) is the principal legislation concerning non-native species. Schedule 9 of the Act makes it an offence to release species from captivity, or in the case of plants, cause to grow in the wild.
Section 14A of the Wildlife and Countryside Act provides a power to Ministers to list animal and plant species on an order which makes it an offence to sell, offer or expose for sale, or have in one's possession or transport for the purposes of sale the specified species. This new power was provided by amendments made by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.
Penalties for offences under Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act include up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £40,000 on summary conviction. On conviction on indictment, the penalties are an unlimited fine and/or a two year prison sentence.
The list of species proposed in the consultation has been developed with input from the Scottish Working Group on Invasive Non-native Species.
Species on islands may also be especially vulnerable to predators and competitors, which they may have evolved independently from. Some of the proposed amendments in this consultation paper should help to prevent releases on Scottish islands.