The Nature of Scotland – Autumn 2011 – Issue 13

2
Bad press
Promoting country sports can sometimes be a difficult
business as the industry quite often attracts bad press.
The control of predators can be emotive, and when it
involves shooting, trapping or poisoning of protected
species, it’s illegal and indefensible. Unfortunately, it darkens
the image of an industry about which a general audience
often hears little more.
To many people, intensive management for game
shooting is often associated with these sorts of wildlife
crimes. But many country sports – including wildfowling,
stalking, fishing and the less formal ‘rough shooting’ (where
individuals or small groups work with dogs along hedgerows
and small woodlands to flush birds from cover) – take place
without such intensive management.
The Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group formed
some years ago to help improve public perceptions and
to promote Scotland as a country sports destination. It’s
a partnership of groups representing salmon fishers, deer
managers and shooting interests, as well as public bodies
including SNH, Scottish Enterprise and Visit Scotland.
The involvement of these Scottish Government bodies
emphasises just how important country sports are to the
Scottish economy, with an estimated value thought to be in
the region of £400 million per year.
In the past, SNH have more often been associated with
the care and conservation of habitats and species, but
these traditional areas of our work are increasingly being
strengthened with greater focus on the sustainable use of
our natural resources. This work delivers a wide range of
benefits – from increasing the value and interest in healthy,
local food production to broadening tourism markets and
connecting people with the countryside.
“Some may find it surprising, but conservation, hunting
and fishing interests have many of the same goals,”
remarked Ian Jardine, chief executive of SNH. “After all,
when wildlife flourishes in Scotland, it helps nurture our
country’s environment and supports our rural communities
and the economy.”
34 The Nature of Scotland