Sea eagles bill soars towards £1m as payouts to farmers and crofters increase
The bill to taxpayers for crofters and farmers combating sea eagles attacking their lambs is now set to reach almost £1m.
The Scottish Government is set to pay over £500,000 to an estimated 200 plus farmers and crofters impacted by Britain's biggest bird of prey in the latest tranche of funding.
The money has been allocated to the Sea Eagle Management Scheme (SEMS) to help farmers explore different management techniques and trial new prevention measures.
The Scottish Government has said it will provide NatureScot with an additional £534,000 for the 2025-26 scheme.
It takes the total to £970,000, ensuring more support for those worst impacted.
The funding is aimed at helping farmers and crofters with the management and trial of new methods of prevention of livestock loss.
White-tailed eagles – also known as sea eagles – predate lambs and young sheep in some locations.
This can have a significant emotional and financial impact on affected farming and businesses.
The extra cash will allow the maximum standard measures payment of £1500 to help with increased shepherding and monitoring to be increased to £1800.
Meanwhile, the cap for the contribution to enhanced measures payment is doubling from £5000 to £10,000.
The government said this will help free up time for shepherds in the lambing season.
There will also be additional support to be shared by the farms most severely impacted.
Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “We need to ensure a balanced approach where species such as white-tailed eagles come into conflict with agricultural activity, crofting especially sheep farming. The emotional and financial impacts for those worst affected cannot be underestimated.
“I have been working with officials and NatureScot as well as listening to the views of producers to agree a way forward that allows our valued farmers and crofters to continue to successfully work the land at the same time as living alongside the sea eagle population.
“With lambing season upon us again, I hope this increase in support will help mitigate the impact and manage the tension between wildlife conservation efforts and our vital farming communities.”
NatureScot green economy director Robbie Kernahan said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s increase in funding for this year’s Sea Eagle Management Scheme, which will more than double the existing £436,000 available.
“We are pleased to confirm agreements will be extended or offered on that basis, with the focus being on those carrying out enhanced measures. New applicants and those with existing agreements will be contacted shortly with details of this year’s arrangements and payments.
“There will also be additional funding available to develop and test more in-depth management techniques for those suffering significant impacts.”
Mr Kernahan added: “We are committed to helping land managers to live alongside our most treasured and protected species.
“This additional funding clearly recognises predation of livestock can have an impact on farms and crofts, and this underpins commitments to support and offset the costs of farming and crofting in the presence of sea eagles.”
For some, the money can be used to take on an additional shepherd during lambing to help protect sheep from predation.
Land managers in receipt of financial support through long-term management agreements as part of the scheme have been assured payments will continue this year.
White-tailed eagles were driven to extinction in the UK in the early 20th century, before re-introduction programmes beginning in 1975 helped re-establish the population. There are now estimated to be at least 150 pairs across Scotland.
They are the UK’s largest bird of prey with a wingspan of 2.5 metres (8.2feet). Their distinctive, broad shape in flight has led to them being nicknamed ‘flying barn doors’.
However not everybody is happy about the reintroduction of the raptor.
Former Western Isles MP, Angus MacNeil called for sea eagles to be culled.
Mr MacNeil has branded majestic sea eagles, "lamb eagles", after they allegedly killed two of his neighbour's flock.
TV naturalist Chris Packham condemned the calls to cull the bird which he said risks “fanning the flames of conflict” in struggling Scottish communities.
A previous study highlighted the economic benefits the birds have brought to Mull, with between £4.9million and £8million of tourist spend being attracted by white-tailed eagles annually, which in turn supports up to 160 jobs.
NFU Scotland president Andrew Connon, said: “The increase in funding from Scottish Government and NatureScot for the scheme recognises the impact of predation of domestic livestock by Sea Eagles are having on farm and croft businesses.
“With the increase and the spread in the birds’ population, these funds will hopefully allow NatureScot to target mitigation to areas most seriously affected.
“NFU Scotland very much appreciated Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP coming to Argyll in November to hear first-hand the impacts sea eagles can have when they focus on domestic livestock as a food source.
“We were also pleased that in February while attending the NFU Scotland annual conference, First Minister John Swinney MSP recognised not only the financial impacts, but also the effects on the mental health of those who have been seriously impacted by sea eagle predation.’
‘The Union continues to commit to working with NatureScot and all stakeholders through the local and national sea eagle stakeholder groups going forward."
