Advocates for Animals has welcomed much of the Marine (Scotland) Bill report1 released today by the Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs Committee, which proposes improvements to protect Scotland’s seals.
Key facts
- Some fishermen and fish farmers shoot seals because they eat fish. A seal swimming close to a fish farm, in a salmon river or near coastal nets is seen as a competitor for fish.
- There is no legal requirement for good marksmanship when shooting a seal, so there is a high risk of wounding which can lead to prolonged suffering.
- In almost forty years, there has only been one successful prosecution under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970.
- Populations of common seals have declined dramatically - by around 40 per cent - in some parts of Scotland over the last 5 years.
- Incredibly, no-one knows how many seals are being killed - because there is no requirement for seal killings to be recorded.
- We need a new law that will change the present seal-killing culture to one which is more humane.
Campaign news
Scottish Marine Bill Report calls for changes to protect sealsScotland's seals need MSPs to increase protection
A Better Outlook for Seals?
Other mammals greater threat say Scottish Government
A Seal's Fate released
Jail for Shetland seal killer
New publication due for release at parliament lobby event
Thousands call for complete ban on shooting of Scotland's seals
Shetland seal pup killings
Letter plea for better protection
Scottish seal populations plummet
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Advocates for Animals is asking MSPs to amend the Scottish Marine Bill to provide greater protection for Scotland’s seals. As currently drafted, the bill includes a general ban on the shooting of seals, but provides a wide range of exemptions for shooting under licences to be issued by Marine Scotland. 
Advocates for Animals continues to call for better protection for seals in Scotland as the Scottish Government announces its intention to repeal the ineffective Conservation of Seals Act 1970.
The Scottish Government has released a highly misleading press release suggesting that other marine mammals are to blame for seal population declines.
Our new report released in April looks at the welfare implications of shooting seals in Scotland. You can 
The next stage in Advocates for Animals’ campaign is a lobby event for MSPs at which we will make available a new publication about the welfare impacts of seal shooting. 
The Scottish Government's consultation on Scotland's first Marine Bill has shown that an overwhelming 98% of respondents support our campaign. 
Advocates for Animals along with other like-minded groups handed in a letter to the Scottish Parliament, asking Alex Salmond to provide greater protection for Scotland's seals. var addthis_pub="advocatesforanimals"; 
- Scottish Marine Bill Report calls for changes to protect seals
- Scotland's seals need MSPs to increase protection
- A Better Outlook for Seals?
- Other mammals greater threat say Scottish Government
- A Seal's Fate released
- Jail for Shetland seal killer
- New publication due for release at parliament lobby event