§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his estimates for each of the last three available years of the number of each type of seal resident in Scottish waters and the varieties and value of fish taken by such seals in each of these years.
§ Sir Hector MonroBoth grey and common seals are resident in Scottish waters. Estimated grey seal numbers are as follows:
Number 1990 79,000 1991 86,900 1992 92,800 Comparable figures are not available for common seals which are presently estimated at 24,100.
Research has shown that seals are opportunistic feeders which consume a wide variety of species including those of commercial importance such as cod, whiting, various flat fishes, herring, sprat and sandeels as well as salmon. No recent estimate is available of the value of the commercial fish consumed by seals in Scottish waters.
§ Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest estimates by the sea mammals research unit of the numbers of grey and common seals in Scotland.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe latest grey and common seal populations in Scotland as estimated by the sea mammal research unit are 92,800 and 24,100 respectively.