Shetland seal pup killings

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.

Tuesday, 16 December 2008 09:34

Shetland police have charged two men with the brutal killing of 18 grey seal pups on the remote island of East linga. Several of the victims look to have been clubbed to death.

The island is home to a salmon farm and with many fishermen feeling that seals are a threat to their livelihood, the killing of seals is commonplace.

Although, according to Scottish Natural Heritage, Shetland has a stable population of grey seals, it is known that common seal numbers are declining fast.

The Conservation of Seals Act gives inadequate protection to Scottish seals, sending as it does, the message that under certain conditions the killing of seals is justifiable

Unfortunately there has only ever been one successful prosecution under the Act, while hundreds of seals are killed illegally every year. Advocates for Animals' LOOK OUT for SEALS campaign seeks to bring much greater legal protection for seals.

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