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Otter

An otter survey is likely to be required if there is a watercourse, wetland area or pond on a development site or site proposed for development. 

 

Otter and their resting up sites are protected under UK Legislation, in particular under the  Conservation (Natural Habitats, & C.) Regulations 1994, and in Scotland under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & C.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2007.   For example it is an offence to deliberately or recklessly disturb an otter in a resting up site or to damage or destroy a breeding or resting site for this species. 

If a breeding or resting is affected by development, then a European Protected Species licence will be required before works can start. In Scotland, the Scottish Government advise that a licence application can take 6-8 weeks to assess.  It is recommended that survey and mitigation design should start as early as possible in the life of the project.  Our staff can assist with such issues for a wide variety of projects. The licence application requires a species survey and is likely to include mitigation proposals which may include supervision of nearby works, erection of exclusion fencing and artificial otter holt construction.