Seals to be given better protection as Marine Bill passed by Scottish Parliament
Seals in Scottish waters will have more legal protection under the Marine (Scotland) Bill which was today (4th February) passed by the Scottish Parliament.
• Seals can no longer be shot without a licence to do so
• A requirement to use non-lethal methods of excluding or deterring seals before a seal licence is granted
• Welfare conditions are to be placed on licences meaning that seals cannot be shot: by untrained marksmen; in bad visibility; from over a set distance away; from an unstable platform; and measures must be taken to reduce the risk of seals suffering unnecessarily when shot. The type of firearm which must be used is specified and there are conditions regarding the recovery of carcases.
• The law specifies that the Government can prohibit the killing of seals at certain times such as the breeding seasons when seals may be heavily pregnant or have dependent pups
• Seals are protected from intentional or reckless harassment at a haul-out site
• The numbers of seals killed under a licence must be reported quarterly
• The licensing regime will be formally reviewed every five years
(from Advocates for Animals)
