Scotland To Kill Seals?

From BBC Radio Scotland Sun April 18th 2004


MSP backing Scottish seal cull


Scotland has the world's second largest seal population
A senior Labour MSP has called for more research into seal numbers and said
we should not be afraid of culling the animals if necessary.
Western Isles MSP, Alisdair Morrison made the call on BBC Radio Scotland's
Sunday Live programme.

He said if it can be proved the seal population is damaging fish stocks then
tough decisions should be made.

Wildlife campaigners recently hit out at Canada's decision to cull about
300,000 seals.

Scotland has the world's second largest seal population and Mr Morrison said
that they should be treated like other animal.

Activist fury

He said: "Culls are not unique to the Outer Hebrides or indeed to other
parts of Scotland.

"It happens in terms of mink, hedgehog and deer and again, if required, it
should also happen with the seal population around the Hebrides and around
the British Isles."

Animal right activists reacted with fury earlier this week when Canada
launched the largest single seal hunt in half a century.

The Canadian government said hunters would be allowed to kill around 350,000
seals this year.

The hunting of young seals for their fur almost stopped in the face of
international outrage but with seal numbers increasing and fur again in
fashion the hunt has returned.

About 38% of the world population of grey seals is found in Britain and over
90% of them breed in Scotland, the majority in the Hebrides and in Orkney.

Britain is also home to about 40% of all European common seals and 87% of
them live around Scotland in the Hebrides and Northern Isles, the Wash, the
Firth of Tay and the Moray Firth.












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MSP backing Scottish seal cull