§ 79. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the experimental cull of seal calves on the Farne Islands.
§ 80. Sir J. Duncanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the problem of grey seals in the Fame Islands and the progress up to date in carrying out the experimental cull of seal calves.
§ Mr. GodberThe population of grey seals on the Fame Islands has increased from about 800 pre-war to about 3,000 today and still increasing. The Fame Islands belong to the National Trust and the grey seals are protected during280W their breeding season by the Grey Seals (Protection) Act, 1932.
The Nature Conservancy are undertaking a scientific study of the seals, which are damaging coastal salmon fisheries on the Scottish and Northumbrian coasts. In their Report for 1957 they reluctantly accepted the desirability of experimenting in strictly limited measures of control in view of the continuing rapid growth of the colony. They recommended that while research and observations on the seals should continue as at present, measures to protect the salmon nets against depredations by the seals should be explored and further increases in the grey seal population should be limited by an annual cull of 300 calves. That was proposed as an experimental and interim measure.
After discussing these recommendations with the Nature Conservancy, the National Trust and other interested bodies, the Government concluded that the practicability of culling the seal calves must be investigated before any final decisions were taken. Accordingly an Order suspending the close season was laid before the House. In the ensuing debate on 28th July it was explained that culling would be undertaken under the supervision of the veterinary staff of the Ministry of Agriculture; that if practicable the humane killer would be used; and if that were not successful, experiments would be made with clubbing, the method most acceptable to the R.S.P.C.A. if the humane killer proved unsatisfactory.
In accordance with these arrangements an experimental cull was undertaken on 3rd December when the humane killer was used and 10 seal calves were killed. Bad weather has prevented further landings this week when the tides were suitable: but the information obtained about the use of the humane killer suggests that used alone it is not completely satisfactory. Information on clubbing methods will be obtained from other sources including Norway, where there has been considerable experience of these techniques.
The seal calves are likely to have left or to be leaving the breeding grounds by the end of December when the tides would again be suitable for further landings. The Government have decided therefore not to conduct further experiments this season.
281WA decision on further experimental culling not autumn will be taken in the light of the study of the information and experience so far acquired.