§ Mr. BurtTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's Government will support an indefinite extension of European Community Directive 83/129/EEC which bans the importation of harp and hooded seal pup skins and products; and if he will make a statement on the health of seals in United Kingdom waters.
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§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe killing of harp and hooded seals for trade has aroused strong public concern in many countries. We have considered carefully the conservation case for trade controls on these species and have consulted the sea mammal research unit of the Natural Environment Research Council, which is internationally acknowledged for its expertise in this area.
Our view is that a permanent extension of the current temporary European Community directive (83/129 EEC) controlling this trade, which is due to expire on 1 October 1989, is required to ensure the conservation of the seal populations in question.
The Government have also taken additional conservation measures to help reduce the threat to the United Kingdom seal population. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department announced last October the introduction of new orders under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 which extend throughout the year the general protection given under the Act. These measures apply to common and grey seals in England and common seals in Scotland.
The seal population in the North sea and Irish sea have been affected by a virus. Research is continuing into the epidemic at the sea mammal research unit as part of this Department's North sea research programme. A total of around 2,750 seals were reported dead from a population of 95,000 grey seals and 25,000 common seals.