Grey Seals and African Elephants have something in common;

Unfortunately they are both rare and yet humans still kill them. 

Page Content:

Please scroll down page to; -

+ Scotland's Seals

+ A Scottish Perspective (Diversity, Topography).

+ A Scottish Sea Loch as an Example.

+ No Take Zones.

+ Changes to Scottish Legislation: Stop Seal Shooting.

Scotland’s Seals

A short background to the seals found in Scotland, touching on numbers of seals and how they are recorded. Information on the shooting of seals and a more in-depth account on recording methods can be found on the Sustainable Seas page.

Seals are classified in the suborder, - pinnipeds (‘fin or flipper’ footed), they are “dog-like” carnivorous mammals. There are three families found in the Suborder; Walrus (Odobenidae), sealions and fur seals, the eared seals (Otariidae) and the true seals (Phocidae). There are five sub-species of Phocidae; Phoca vitulina.

Scotland has two resident breeding species both in the Family of Phocidae. The European subspecies of Common or Harbour Seal; Phoca vitulina vitulina and the Atlantic Grey Seal; Halicoerus grypus.

Common Seals

The European subspecies; Phoca vitulina vitulina is found in Scotland. The subspecies classification is important as the Common seals are geographically separated from each other and this becomes relevant when the numbers in the population are being discussed.

I.D. Common seals look somewhat like a Labrador without ears, they have a dip on the forehead and their nostrils tend to form a ‘V’. The true seals cannot ‘walk’ on their hind limbs and use their hind limbs for propulsion, pectoral flippers for turning and holding. They can measure up to two metres and weight varies between 65 – 150Kgs.

“Despite being called “common”, they (European subspecies) are actually less common than grey seals”. Wildlife Trust.

We are responsible for the UK seal populations which is approximately 45-50% of the European subspecies; 33,400 Common seals are found in the UK, 90% of which are in Scotland.

Grey Seals

The larger Grey Seal Halicoerus grypus is only found in the eastern and western coastal fringes of the Atlantic. They are among the rarest seals in the world, with approximately 40% of the global population around 120,000 found in the UK, 90% of these are in Scotland.

I.D. Grey seals have a ‘Roman’ nose and their nostrils are close to parallel; not joining near the mouth, they are larger than common seals, especially the males, which can be more than two metres, less for females approximately 180cm. Males can be around 230Kgs, females 150Kg.

The methods of counting seals can be dry but important as we need stats to give an indication of trends, especially when some commercial industries blame seals for a lack of fish, calling for culls and salmon farms blame them for damage, we have found that often both matters are falsely reported.

Under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 for England and Wales and the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 the Natural Environment Research Council has a duty to give scientific advice to government, the Special Committee on Seals was formulated to report on the management of seal populations and the scientific research is carried out by the Sea Mammal Research Unit based in St Andrews, Scotland.

Grey and Common seals are counted differently, Greys are counted during pupping season where the ‘white-coats’(pups) are clearly visible, from fixed wing aircraft. Once counted a mathematical model is applied in order to give a total figure, it is worth noting that this modelling system has changed over time, making direct comparison more difficult. Common seals, being better camouflaged with rocks are counted using a thermal imaging camera, usually from a helicopter. Counts from boats can also be used.

Not only have methods changed but the frequency of counts has reduced, resulting in greater uncertainties. This makes comparisons in relation to population trends with high levels of confidence more problematic. Reports of ‘population explosions’ require careful scrutiny, what has been apparent in some areas of perceived increase has been due to relocation of the seals.

In general Greys have increased, especially in the east. That said Scotland has around 40% of the world population and globally they are as rare as African elephants, we are custodians for future generations. We don’t have a baseline population, pre-hunt figure, where they were hunted to near local extinction, around 500 individuals, so it is subjective to ascertain what is the ‘norm’.

The European sub-species of Common seals are said to be stable on the west coast, but we maintain that depends on where the boundaries are drawn. This is similar to changing political boundaries which can favour a particular party. When Marine Concern submitted EC complaints, Common seal populations in some west coast areas were reduced by half and this includes at least one Special Area of Conservation for Common seals. The populations in the Northern Isles and east coast are in decline. During the PDV outbreaks some areas were subject to a massive decline.

We have requested information regarding the most up to date data for specific areas/locations, we will update this when we can.

A Scottish Perspective; what makes Scotland's coast so special.

Scottish Sea Lochs and Loch Etive (An Example)

Much of Scotland's west coast is highly indented, convoluted with fjordic sealochs. Fjords are deep and steep sided with sills at their entrance limiting the inflow of seawater. Often brackish due to the immense runoff in western climes. This leads to special and difficult conditions which can contain isolated deep waters. Even the sediments are special holding varvic deposits which can give a snap-shot in time.

Highlighting Loch Etive as an example, situated midway on the west coast is an outstanding example of a Scottish fjoridic sea-loch, the pictures below are all taken in the Loch Etive water catchment area.

Tidal flows can be strong with over a metre difference in height either side of the Connel Bridge, the Falls of Lora.

With a flow exceeding 10 knots salt wedges form, overfalls, eddies and mini whirlpools.

Fin-fish, especially salmon farming is a big and growing industry along the Scottish west coast. Currently however, it appears that profit overcomes environmental concerns. Planning consents are conducted by those working from a terrestrial background with little allowable input from individuals or environmental groups. Government and government agencies appear hell-bent on supporting growth, especially with China's insatiable taste for salmon, but a one percent increase in supplying China would require a 50% increase in Scottish production. In its current form, that is not sustainable. The potential for environmental damage on a huge scale is very real.

Mussels syphon water; in doing so they feed by extracting particles from the water and they are very efficient, multiply that by millions and effectively the loch has one highly efficient 'cleaning' mechanism. However, when that means mass removal of other species the problem can become great.

In recent years a previously unseen mussel competed with the commercial varity,

Mytilus trossulus out-competing with the current commercial mussel species Mytilus edulis, 

but this new mussel (actually turned out to be the original species not seen since the last ice age) species contained only 10% meat and shells were so fragile that they could not be harvested using the current commercial methods. The problem was so bad that the industry voluntarily ceased production in the hope that the edible variety might return. For further reading.

Boats and moorings in Loch Etive were inundated with mussel spat (young mussels), so much so that it could become a problem. Boats moored outside of the loch but close-by had far fewer mussels and a combination of acorn barnacles and algae. Barnacles and algae in the loch were becoming less apparent. An altered ecosystem.

Is this a case of too much? More research is needed but the 'Precautionary Principle' as enshrined in the Rio 'Earth' Summit should have been utilised, often in Scotland's marine planning it is not.

Commercial activities need to look more closely at the very environment which supports it. Salmon farming is currently one of the worst offenders, where profit comes first even at the cost of the industry.

Peru and Chile have seen catastrophic collapses, Scottish salmon farming could be going the same way without enforced legislation.

It is not just aquaculture, mobile fisheries such as scallop dredging and benthic trawling destroy fish breeding grounds, few areas are given adequate protection.

There is room in our seas for production, activities and the environment such as the kayakers seen in the overfalls in the Falls of Lora, but only with real care.

No-Take-Zones Inc. HPMAs

Marine Protection - Marine Reserves - Marine National Parks: No-Take-Zones

Protection within the marine environment can take a variety of names from; - Marine Reserves, Marine National Parks, Marine Protected Areas, Marine Conservation Areas and more, all with a variance on the actual protection that they afford. The latest term is Highly Protected Marine Areas;- HPMAs, currently the Scottish view is different to international and UN definitions but they are still at the 'consultation' stage.

What is known that marine protection when applied with some degree of 'No-Take-Zones' work. No-Take-Zones are just that; nothing taken out, and in some cases nothing put in. Successful marine protection has seen fishing targeting the boundaries of the protected area with fishing effort reduced and both catch (quantity and species size) increase, including species diversity.

What is needed in any protected marine area is a region or regions of no-take, areas where nature can recover and regenerate. The size required for protection varies depending on location and commercial pressures. When the concept of no-take-zones or Highly Protected Marine Reserves were covered by the Royal Commission's 25th Report, 'Turning the Tide' in 2004 it was estimated that UK waters required 30% No-Take in order to sustain future commercial use and maintain species biodiversity and fish stocks.

Any designated protection without areas being left to recover, left to flourish are little more than paperwork exercises. Attention to detail in the wording of such protection vital, or the protected area/species becomes meaningless as has been seen in the Lismore Special Area of Conservation (SAC); designation Common Seals. Within this SAC the resident salmon farming company still shoots seals under a Scottish Government license, flouts seal haul-outs with debris and harassment; it even uses acoustic deterrents in a known cetacean hot-spot!

Once designated any protected area MUST be actively monitored and illegal activities penalised with deterrents that actually deter what can be hugely financially lucrative businesses.   

Archive

The 'Bullet', Cheaper than Non-Lethal Methods

Double Skinned Anti Predator Nets (of the same mesh size) or Closed-Containment Prevent Most issues.

Numerous NGO’s, small groups and individuals have been pushing for an end to the shooting of seals in Scotland for many years, during deliberations of the Marine (Scotland) Bill many NGO’s formed the Seals Protection Groups, the author of this report was Coordinator to the group. The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 repealed the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in Scotland but the latter is still in force in England and Wales. England and Wales legislation changed in 2021, the shooting of seals is no longer legal and the effects of the US Marine Mammal Act means that salmon farming are no longer licensed to shoot seals in Scotland.

The UK is home to significant global populations of Grey (Atlantic) Seals Halichoerus grypus (approx. 40%) and Common (Harbour Seals, specifically the European sub-species) Phoca vitulina vitulina (previously 40%, more recently 30%), Scotland holds around 90% of both UK species.

The following bodies and acronyms can be confusing but please bear with it as it is import, one affecting another and so on but they do bring us to the current position.

Under the above legislation the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has responsibility to provide scientific advice to government regarding seal populations and ‘management’. NERC appoints the Special Committee on Seals (SCOS) to formulate advice, conducted by Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU).  http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/research-policy/scos/.

N.B. In our view, the term 'management' is taken by the industries and government plus its Agencies is reference to shooting in the first instance, non-lethal methods exist but to date the industries involved have great influence over relevant authorities, government and politicians; we see little change while the bullet remains the cheapest option.

In the US the Marine Mammal Protection Act 1972 (MMPA), affords protection to all marine mammals and provides provisions for ‘take’ under certain exemptions. The relevant amendments under the List of Foreign Fisheries (LOFT) in 2017 are of particular interest and it is these changes that have caused the UK changes, as imports where marine mammals have been concerned include incidental take as well as ‘licensed’ activities such as shooting of seals. 

Amendments under the 2017 List of Foreign Fisheries (LOFT) applies to importing fish and fish products, it bans fish from commercial fishing operations that result in incidental or serious injury of marine mammals. There is a five year ‘notification’ system to allow for countries to adapt and it is now that the Scottish salmon industry and the Scottish Parliament  have been forced to consider the matters before the loss of exports.

Marine Concern have been concerned that under the current Presidency and the previous actions of Trump that these provisions may be overturned, that said it may not just be down to the US President as it appears that the MMPA follows requirements from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), we will be watching this closely. Interestingly, Marine Concern reads that the LOFT regulations also apply to the mobile fishing sector, salmon netsmen and salmon anglers.

The bottom line here is that the ‘harvesting nation’, must

prohibit intentional killing of marine mammals.

Further reading, - NGO, News