EDM 678: Protection for seals – That this House recognises the UK’s international obligations to maintain its globally important seal populations at a favourable conservation status; notes that seal populations remain depleted and are threatened by further outbreaks of the phocine distemper virus and remain under increasing threat from climate change, depletion of prey species pollution and deliberate killing; notes with extreme concern scientific reports of a frightening decline in the population of common seals in UK waters; further notes that an estimated 5,000 seals are shot in Scottish waters by the salmon industry; believes that the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 is outdated and in urgent need of review or replacement; and calls on the Government to implement an immediate and comprehensive ban on the deliberate killing of all seals, to replace the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 with legislation for the comprehensive protection of seals in the forthcoming Marine Bill and to liaise with the Scottish Executive to this end.

Mr Tipping said:

““It makes no sense to be shooting seals however much of a threat they might occasionally be to fish farms. When you have a population that looks as though it is going through a terminal collapse measures must be taken to stop that.”

SPAG is calling on the public to contact their MP’s asking them to support Paddy Tipping’s EDM.

The easiest way to contact your MP is by visiting www.writetothem.com. Once on the site, search for your MP using your post code and then simply send a message using the box provided.

For information about our campaign to protect seals in the UK and how you can help – please click here.

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*S3M-3167 Robin Harper: Protection for Seals—That the Parliament calls on the Scottish Government to recognise the threat to the seal population in Scottish waters from disease, climate change and shooting; particularly notes the recent dramatic and unexplained reduction in the population of common seals; also notes that processes for reporting and recording of seal deaths by shooting are not consistent or accurate, and therefore calls for an immediate ban on the shooting of common seals and a commitment from government to replace the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 with a much firmer commitment to seal protection in the forthcoming Marine Bill.

(Source: Scottish Parliament web site)

Mr Harper said:

“This decline in common seal numbers is extremely alarming. They are an iconic symbol of Scottish marine life, but they are also at the top of the food chain and provide us with strong indicators of the health of the marine environment.”

SPAG is calling on the Scottish public to contact their MSP’s asking them to support Robin Harpers Motion.

The easiest way to contact your MSP is by visiting www.writetothem.com. Once on the site, search for your MP using your post code and then simply send a message using the box provided.

For information about our campaign to protect seals in the UK and how you can help – please click here.

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John George Eunson, aged 44, of Seefeld, Symbister, Whalsay, and 47 year old Jimmy Stewart, of Ellies Knowe, Saltness, Symbister, Whalsay, have been charged with mutilating, beating and crushing and willfully killing 21 grey seals with intent to cause unnecessary suffering under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act.

Both men have also been charged under the Conservation of Seals Act (1970) for killing seals during the closed breeding season, between 1st September and 31st December, when grey seals are nursing their newborn pups.

The Seal Protection Action Group is campaigning to get the The Conservation of Seals Act (CSA 1970) replaced with effective legislation that actually protects seals from deliberate killing. The CSA provides little more than a licence to kill grey and common seals, except during their respective breeding seasons, because : fishing interests, notably salmon farmers, netsmen and sport anglers can shoot seals perfectly legally to prevent damage to their equipment or stock.
To date there has only ever been one successful prosecution under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, and this related to the use of a shotgun, rather than a rifle, to kill three seals. Over the years there have been numerous illegal seal killing incidents around the Scottish coast, some of which the police have investigated, though no charges have been brought against offenders.

It is estimated that up to 5,000 seals are killed in Scottish waters each year by salmon farm and fisheries interests. Recently scientists have reported that there has been a ‘frightening’ decline in common (harbour) seals in Scotland and England. It is not yet clear if grey seals have been affected.

The two men arrested over the horrific grey seal pup slaughter made no plea when they appeared in the dock. They have also been excused from appearing in court when the case is recalled on 15 January after one of the defendants said he would be sea fishing on that date.
Andy Ottaway of the Seal protection Action Group said:

“This appalling case highlights they need for a fundamental change in attitude, and the law, for our globally important common and grey seal populations. Our seals are disappearing and this culture of killing seals must be stopped. Our seals must be fully protected under law from any deliberate killing before it is too late”

At the Seal protection Action Group we are campaigning to create, effective legislation to provide seals with the full protection they deserve. On Tuesday 16th December, representatives from the Seal Protection Action Group along with a delegation of MP’s visited 10 Downing Street to hand in a letter signed by 27 leading animal welfare and conservation organisations asking for an immediate and comprehensive ban on the deliberate killing of all seals in UK waters, including Scottish waters.

Andy Ottaway of the Seal Protection Action Group has a message for the public:

“Until the governments protect our seals as they surely must, we are calling on the public to avoid Scottish salmon unless they can be assured that no seals have been killed. We know that the public support our view that dead seals is too high a price to pay for Scottish salmon”

PRESS ENQUIRIES:Please click here to download the official Media Release

For further details about our campaign to protect seals in the UK please click here to be redirected to our ‘Saving Scotland’s Seals’ campaign.

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