Thousands of seals shot in Scotland every year – Marine bill must act

08/09/2008 08:58:12 September 2008. Advocates for Animals has launched a campaign to end the killing of seals in Scottish waters. The LOOK OUT for SEALS campaign aims to achieve full legal protection for seals in a new Scottish Marine Bill.

Thousands of seals shot
Many people are unaware that thousands of seals are needlessly shot in Scotland every year. The existing Conservation of Seals Act 1970 is widely agreed to be ineffective and unenforceable, allowing seals to be shot even when they are pregnant or with dependent pups. The Act does not require any standard of marksmanship, meaning that seals can suffer and die at sea after being shot and wounded.

Globally important seal populations
Scotland is home to globally important populations of both grey and common seals and the guardian of most UK seals, with about 90% of the total UK population living in Scottish waters. Over the last five years, however, populations of common seals in some areas have declined by more than 40%. Although a number of different factors are thought to be responsible for the population decline, the unnecessary shooting of seals is clearly an important issue. Unbelievably, no records are required to be kept of the numbers of animals shot.

Marine Bill
The Scottish Government is currently consulting the public on what should be included in a new Marine Bill. Advocates for Animals is calling on people to respond to this consultation and ask for seals to be protected.

The animal protection organisation's campaign has strong public support: a recent opinion poll showed that 75% of people in Scotland believe that it should be made illegal for anyone to kill seals in Scottish waters.

People can support Advocates for Animals' call for full legal protection for seals at www.lookoutforseals.org .