A Scottish sanctuary that rescues orphaned seals yesterday called for an end to slaughtering the animals to protect stocks of salmon and other fish.
Staff at the Scottish Seal Sanctuary in Oban, Argyll, said they were “saddened and appalled” at revelations that at least 205 seals were killed last year around Scotland’s coasts.
The Scottish Government figures also show some 1,400 seals were killed over the last four years, although campaigners fear the true extent of the killings could be higher as the numbers are not independently verified.
The shootings can take place during the breeding season, meaning that some cubs are left to fend for themselves when their mothers are killed.
Seal care worker Farrah Minchin said: “It is particularly disturbing that shooting is even permitted during the breeding season in Scotland, which means pups face a slow death from starvation if their mothers fall victim to the shooters.
“Given all our hard work rescuing sick, injured and orphaned seal pups this news is very depressing.”
The Scottish salmon industry produces 155,000 tons of farmed fish a year, has annual exports of more than £285million and provides thousands of jobs.
Fishermen and farmers are allowed to kill seals which they believe are threatening fish stocks.
In Scotland, they must get a licence which restricts the number of animals they can legally kill.
Fish farms and fishermen claim deterrents like nets and sonar “pingers” are the first line of defence against fish-loving seals, but shooting is a last resort.
The sanctuary team believes non-lethal deterrents are the only acceptable safeguards, however.
Miss Minchin added: “Seals are resourceful animals and will naturally view a large pen of salmon or sea trout, or a river inlet where they are being herded by net fishermen as a potential food source.
“This is their environment, and it should be up to the fishermen and fish-farms to find harmless ways of deterring them or accept some losses to seals.”