Petitioner: John F. Robins on behalf of Save Our Seals Fund
Status:
Closed
Date Lodged:
05 May 2014
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to stop issuing licences permitting salmon farming, salmon netting and salmon angling interests to shoot and kill seals in Scottish waters and instead require that salmon farmers either move their farms into on-shore tank systems or legally require marine salmon farmers to install and maintain the high-strength, high tension predator exclusion nets they require to meet their legal obligation under the Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to protect their stock from the attention of predators. We further ask that the Scottish Parliament ask the Scottish Government to legislate to close down all salmon netting stations in Scottish waters thus allowing tens of thousands of Atlantic Salmon and seatrout to return to their native rivers to breed.
Summary:
17 June 2014: The Committee took evidence from John F Robins, Secretary, Save Our Seals Fund. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, Marine Scotland, the Special Committee on Seals and the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation. Link to Official Report 17 June 2014 (589KB pdf)
28 October 2014: The Committee agreed to refer the petition, under Rule 15.6.2, to the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee to consider in the context of the ongoing work in this area. Link to Official Report 28 October 2014
10 December 2014: The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee closed the petition. Link to Official Report 10 December 2014
Written Submissions:
Circa 1,000 seals are shot and killed under Government Licence in Scotland each year. These deaths are totally unnecessary and an international embarrassment to Scotland. We would like to see Scotland lead the way with seal-friendly salmon farming using techniques such as on-shore farming in enclosed tank systems and proper predator exclusion nets around marine farms.