§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of each type of seal found in United Kingdom waters, the total weight of fish consumed by these animals each year and the weight of each prey species this represents; and of these prey species, which, and in what numbers, weights or quantities, are exploited by(a) commercial fisherman and (b) anglers. [59032]
§ Mr. Morley1997 estimates (1996 for Northern Ireland) indicate UK populations of some 115,000 grey seals and 50,000 common seals.
Based on 1985 diet data it is estimated that in 1997 232,000 tonnes of fish was consumed by grey seals and 55,000 tonnes of fish by common seals. The predominant prey species were sandeels, cod and whiting. A significant proportion of the fish taken by seals are likely to have been juveniles which, given their high rates of natural mortality, may not in any case have reached a size at which they would be available to either commercial fishermen or anglers.