§ Mr. Garrettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the date of the last seal cull on the Fame Islands; and how many seals were killed;
(2) what plans he has for another cull of seals in the Fame Islands; and what is the estimated number of seals that will be destroyed.
§ Mr. PriorThe last seal cull on the Fame Islands was conducted by my Department in 1965. About 360 seals were killed.
I shall be considering shortly whether to apply to my right hon. Friend the 199W Secretary of State for the Home Department for a licence under the Conservation of Seals Act to carry out a cull to reduce damage to fisheries. The number of seals which might be culled, should this prove desirable, would be determined in the light of scientific advice from the Natural Environment Research Council.