45Report on gull population(1)

Scottish Natural Heritage (in this section referred to as “SNH”) must, in respect of each reporting period, prepare and publish a report on the gull population in coastal and urban areas of Scotland.

(2)

A report under subsection (1) must—

(a)

provide information about the gull population in coastal and urban areas,

(b)

set out (so far as possible) any shift or trend in the distribution of gulls between coastal and urban areas,

(c)

include any other matter relating to the gull population in coastal and urban areas as SNH consider appropriate.

(3)

In subsection (1), “reporting period” means—

(a)

in the case of the first report, the period of 5 years beginning with the day after Royal Assent,

(b)

each subsequent period of 5 years.

(4)

In this section, “gull” means gulls of the species—

(a)

black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus),

(b)

common gull (Larus canus),

(c)

great black-backed gull (Larus marinus),

(d)

herring gull (Larus argentatus), and

(e)

lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus).