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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.

Letter plea for better protection

Wednesday, 26 November 2008 00:00

Protesters hold banner at ParliamentAdvocates 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.

This was a joint action led by the Seal Protection Action Group, and follows on from Advocates' tireless campaigning which has led so far to nearly 4,000 people e-mailing or sending postcards to the Scottish Government asking for a complete ban on the shooting of seals to be included in the forthcoming Marine Bill.

The letter with its 27 signatories was handed in to Green MSP Robin Harper, who agreed to deliver it to the First Minister. It asks for "immediate and comprehensive" protection in the face of evidence which suggests that seal numbers are falling rapidly.

Our Campaigns Director, Ross Minett stated:

“New research showing continuing declines in seal populations is most concerning and reinforces the need for the Scottish Government to use the new Scottish Marine Bill to give seals full legal protection. Now more than ever there are overwhelming animal welfare and conservation reasons to end the unnecessary killing of seals by members of the fishing and fish farming industries. Advocates for Animals and many other animal welfare and conservation organisations are calling on the Scottish Government to bring this slaughter to an end.”

While admitting that other factors were undoubtedly at play, such as global warming, the letter impressed that the shooting of seals is only going to add to this growing crisis in our waters.

The rally on Tuesday was a colourful affair with one protester wearing a seal costume while others unfurled a banner which read "Ceasefire for seals". We hope that this action and joint letter will help convince those in power that seals are a national treasure which should be protected.

 
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