By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE SCOTTISH Government yesterday unveiled new measures to limit the use of snares, but stopped short of an outright ban.

Environment minister Michael Russell detailed a number of technical changes aimed at reducing unnecessary suffering to animals.

These include fitting crimped safety stops to prevent the noose closing too far and inflicting damage, the compulsory fitting of ID tags on snares which will allow identification of their owner by the authorities, and a ban on setting snares on posts, over water courses, on planks or fences which can cause unnecessary suffering.

Mr Russell told MSPs the measures struck a balance between the view of animal rights groups and those who live and work in the countryside.

“I greatly respect those who campaign for a complete ban on snaring and I empathise with them,” said the minister.

“Yet no responsible politician can ignore the fact that there are those who argue equally passionately that snaring is a regrettable but essential tool for high quality land management in Scotland.

“Such people also have a keen interest in and concern for wildlife and their view—that snaring plays a key role in maintaining the iconic Scottish landscape of heather clad hillsides, alive with a rich diversity of species—cannot be lightly set aside.

“The key issue I have had to consider is whether the protection of our unique biodiversity, the management of our successful shooting industries and the safeguarding of our key agricultural production could be undertaken without the option of using snaring—that is, could it be done in any more humane and more appropriate way both in terms of cost effectiveness and in terms of actual results on the ground.

“If it could then snaring might well be able to be dispensed with. If not, then snaring, regrettably, would have to remain within the range of tools necessary for good land management in Scotland.

“At the end of a very lengthy process of discussion and reflection I have come to the conclusion that snaring is still necessary in some circumstances.”

Mr Russell said the package of reforms unveiled yesterday has the support of landowners and managers, gamekeepers and sporting interests.

He told MSPs he would have liked the co-operation of welfare and other organisations such as Advocates for Animals and the League Against Cruel Sports but they are not prepared to consider anything but a total ban.

Labour environment spokesman Sarah Boyack said her party was extremely disappointed the SNP have failed to ban snaring despite the overwhelming majority of people consulted being in favour of an outright ban.

“The provisions the minister is announcing today lack detail, enforcement information or indeed a timetable,” she said.

“How can he possibly expect his proposals to address this issue? It is not the end of the debate and Labour will continue to support efforts for an outright ban.”

The measures were backed by The Scottish Countryside Alliance, The British Association for Shooting and Conservation Scotland, the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, the Scottish Estates Business Group, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, and NFU Scotland.

In a joint statement they said, “We welcome the approach taken by the minister today because we believe he has struck the right balance between animal welfare concerns and the need to enable land managers to do their jobs effectively.”

However animal welfare groups criticised the decision and vowed to continue their campaign for a total ban.

Libby Anderson, of Advocates for Animals, said, “By not banning snares the government is failing to advance animal welfare and flying in the face of public opinion which was firmly behind a ban.”

Louise Robertson, of the League Against Cruel Sports, said, “This is something which the Scottish people feel very strongly about and I am sure the government will face a backlash from what will prove to be a very unpopular decision.”