Secret seal slaughter in UK
Anna-Lisa | 11.12.2008 12:53 | Ecology
Another victim of the Scottish salmon industry
The Seal Protection Action Group protesting outside the Scottish Parliament i
Under the Conservation of Seals Act (1970) it is perfectly legal for fishing interests, notably salmon netsmen and fish farmers to shoot seals in order to prevent damage to their equipment or catch/stock. This outdated legislation needs to be urgently changed.
Recently scientists from the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St Andrews University revealed what they described as a ‘frightening’ decline in the number of common (harbour) seals around the UK coast. Whilst the exact reason behind the decline is unknown, campaigners believe that the indiscriminate shooting of seals by the salmon industry has played its part and must be stopped.
The organisation helping to lead a campaign against the shooting of seals in the UK is the Seal Protection Action Group in conjunction with nearly 30 other animal welfare and conservation organizations including International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), Advocate for Animals, PETA Europe, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), Animal Aid, British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), Animal Concern, International Animal Rescue (IAR), Save our Seals Fund, Seawatch Foundation and Care for the Wild amongst many others.
Recently the coalition protested outside the Scottish Parliament demanding a ceasefire for seals and they will shortly be taking the campaign to 10 Downing Street where they will be handing to Prime Minister Gordon Brown asking for an immediate ban on the shooting of seals.
Talking about the campaign Andy Ottaway of the Seal Protection Action Group said “Scientific evidence now supports our view that this culture of killing seals must stop. We are calling for a ceasefire for seals with immediate effect and the comprehensive protection of our disappearing seal populations from deliberate killing before it is too late.”
The coalition has also written to all High Street retailers calling on them to insist that their suppliers of Scottish salmon stop seal shooting, and to stipulate this in their supply contracts. Salmon may feature on some peoples menu this Christmas and New Year however the Seal Protection Action Group are “calling on the public to avoid Scottish salmon unless they can be assured that no seals have been killed. Our seals are disappearing and we must act now before it is too late.”
If you would like to get involved in the campaign to protect seals in the UK please go to
http://www.sealaction.org/campaigns/scotland for further details.
Anna-Lisa
e-mail:
anna-lisa.nagel@sealaction.org
Homepage:
http://www.sealaction.org
Comments
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Not that secret
11.12.2008 15:41
'Salmon farmers could be expelled from one of the UK's leading animal welfare schemes if they continue shooting seals in large numbers, after scientists warned that common seals are suffering a catastrophic decline.
The RSPCA is to warn more than 80 fish farms that are members of its Freedom Foods welfare accreditation scheme that they must curb the practice or face losing their valuable membership of the scheme.
The retailer Sainsbury's has also promised it will phase out suppliers associated with seal shooting after the Guardian revealed that common seal numbers fell by a quarter last year in some parts of the UK and by 50% over the past five years in others. Marine scientists said the "frightening" decline, which led to just 23,000 common seals being counted last year, was equivalent to the species stopping breeding for five or six years.
Animal rights groups allege the steep fall can be blamed partly on some salmon farmers in Scotland who secretly and unnecessarily shoot up to 5,000 seals each year because the animals could break into fish farm cages.
The current legislation, the Conservation of Seals Act, allows fishermen and fish farmers to shoot seals when necessary, but Scottish ministers plan to tighten up the legislation to prevent shooting during the breeding season and clarify the legal limits of the right to shoot in a new marine bill.
However, a coalition of nearly 30 animal welfare and conservation groups, supported by the Scottish Green party, will tomorrow call on ministers in Edinburgh and Westminster to outlaw shooting of seals entirely.
Andy Ottaway, campaigns director of the Seal Protection Action Group, said: "This is a multimillion-pound industry - why don't they commit some of their money to creating non-lethal methods to protect fish and equipment?"
The new measures by Sainsbury's are the latest in a series of high-profile initiatives by retailers to chase the "green pound" by improving animal welfare and environmental standards.
The salmon industry insists the allegations are greatly exaggerated. Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation, said the industry focused on deterring seals, not killing them: "One rogue seal can cause enormous suffering to thousands of fish, including their traumatic death. Seals can also damage nets, allowing fish to escape, resulting in significant loss to the farmer and great concern for wild fish groups."
The RSPCA said that although estimates range from 300 to 3,000 seals being shot annually, it is thought that roughly 1,500 may be killed each year by fish farmers, anglers and wild salmon netsmen.
One major retailer has admitted privately that its suppliers are thought to shoot at least 250 seals a year to protect stocks.
But you're right it isn't something that many people are aware of.
MrSeal