§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the estimated seal population in Scottish sea waters in each five year interval since 1958.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownNo overall figure is available for 1958, the figures for the subsequent years requested are as follows:
Year Common Seals Grey Seals Total 1963 11,000 35,000 46,000 1968 11,000 42,000 53,000 1973 11,000 54,000 65,000 1977 11,000 60,000 71,000
§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate has been made of the annual total fish loss of (a) salmon and (b) white fish as a result of being taken or being infected by seals in Scottish coastal waters.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownAny division of fish predation by seals between salmon and white fish would be hypothetical. The total consumption by seals, based on their known energy requirements, is estimated at about 195,000 tonnes, of which 65,000 tonnes is the estimated loss of catch.
The grey seal is the final host of the larval nematode known as cod worm and the infestation of cod by this parasite in the North Sea and in other areas is over 40 per cent.
§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate has been made of the total cost of the proposed seal cull in Scottish waters; why this contract was given to a Norwegian company; and if he will make a statement on safeguards to avoid undue suffering.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownThe proposed grey seal cull will comprise 900 adult seals and 4,000 moulted pups. Most of the pups are to be taken by Scottish seal hunters in the Orkneys and in the Western Isles at no public expense other than administrative costs. The adult cull will be carried out under contract by a Norwegian sealer because my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that any Scottish seal hunter has either the equipment or the expertise to take adults in the numbers required. The cost will be based on a daily charter to be offset by the value746W of the animals taken; if the full quota is taken the net cost to public funds will be nil.
My right hon. Friend requires all animals to be shot wth a rifle conforming to the requirements of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 and culls are supervised by my Department. In addition the adult cull will be observed by scientists of the Sea Mammal Research Unit and the Nature Conservancy Council and, if they wish, the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.