§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to improve reporting and monitoring practices in respect of seals; [80855]
(2) how many seals have been killed(a) deliberately and(b) accidentally by humans in each year since 1972; and of those killed deliberately, how many were despatched pursuant to section 9 of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970; [80857]
(3) if she will make a statement on the discharge of her responsibilities in relation to seals under(a) the EU Habitats Directive,(b) Article 8 of the Berne Convention and(c) the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; [80853]
241W(4) what steps she is taking to encourage(a) fishermen and(b) fish farmers to adopt the use of non-lethal means of seal deterrence; [80854]
(5) what plans she has to review section 9 of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970. [80856]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 20 November 2002]The Department has no current plans to amend the reporting practices in respect of seals. The status of seal populations in the UK is reported annually by the National Environment Research Council (NERC) based on data produced by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), University of St. Andrews. The activities of SMRU include seeking improvements in the methods used to collect information about seals.
The Department does not keep a record of the total number of seals killed deliberately or accidentally by humans each year.
Article 3 of the EU Habitats Directive requires the UK to identify and select special areas of conservation (SAC) for common seals and grey seals that will make a significant contribution to conserving these species in their natural range. Regulations prohibit certain indiscriminate methods of killing seals, including the use of devices capable of killing or stunning, explosives, crossbows, semi-automatic or automatic weapons with a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition.
The obligations of Article 8 of the Bern Convention are implemented by the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 and the Conservation of Seals (England) Order 1999.
Under the Wildife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to use a snare to trap any mammal, including seals.
The Department has no plans at present to influence what methods fishermen or fish farmers should use when deterring seals from their nets.
There are currently no plans to review section 9 of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970.