Hebridean Partnership.org :: Protect the environment and promote sustainable economy

Norwegian owned Scottish Sea Farms (SSF) received the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) top honours in the Food and Drink Awards held at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness. The award was for its “Lochmuir” salmon which is specially farmed for the specialist food supermarket chain Marks and Spencer. M&S state, “We work closely with our suppliers to bring you the best food”. But at what cost? Marks & Spencer’s are aware that their suppliers shoot seals!

SSF have been involved with the mass shooting of seals within and around the Lismore Special Area of Conservation (SAC) near Oban, which is designated for seals. A complaint by the Hebridean Partnership to the EC was upheld and a Letter of Formal Notice was issued to the UK Authorities concerning breaches within the Habitats Directive.

Another complaint has been sent to the EC Commissioner for the Environment concerning the eradication of an entire seal colony within the protected site. SSF maintains six fin fish farm cages extremely close to the seals haul-out. Other floating structures include feeding platforms and a generator which is about 20 meters from the site; the restraining chains are located on the seals haul-out, Dubh Sgeir. A short distance away another much larger complex of floating structures exists, so large that one actually supports a “house”.

The constant harassment of vessels and people servicing these floating structures combined with shooting and continuous use of acoustic deterrents has resulted in the total eradication of the seal colony.

This comes at a time when the Common Seal numbers are in massive decline and one top scientist stated, “the rates of decline are equivalent to these populations producing no offspring for five or six years”.

Marks and Spencer along with numerous other supermarket chains are aware of the abuse to seals yet do little to stop these atrocities. These “protected” seals do not have to be shot. Predator nets could be used. SSF state that they are too expensive. Scottish Government and Scottish Agencies do not even insist that non lethal methods be deployed, not even in protected areas for seals.

By endorsing Lochmuir salmon HIE have angered tourist boat operators and environmentalists alike. Seals have gained enormous support, 75% in a recent poll were against the shooting of seals. Mark Carter of the Hebridean Partnership stated that, “There is no need to shoot these charismatic animals, non-lethal anti-predation methods exist to keep them away, to place a fin fish farm right next to an existing seal haul-out is morally outrageous”. Hebridean Partnership is part of a group which supports, “SEAL FREINDLY SALMON”; the public can get involved by refusing to buy salmon from supermarkets whose suppliers shoot seals. More information can be found on: www.protectourseals.org.uk .

The Scottish Government has now concluded the first round of its consultation process and presentations around Scotland. The consultation document titled, "Sustainable Seas for All" appears well laid out and is highly informative. During presentations it was stated that "stakeholders" included everyone what wanted to be involved. The Hebridean Partnership welcomes the government’s new way forward of stakeholder participation but our experience shows that "stakeholders" tend to be the commercial sectors (see SSMEI below). A copy of our submission is available in the downloads page. During the consultation process several points of concern were raised: If Marine Scotland, the single overseeing body is made up of Fisheries Research, Fisheries Protection and the Scottish Government it may lack accountability and balance. Other causes for concern for the marine environment arise when phrases like, maximise resource potential are used. Even the word "conservation" has different meanings depending on your viewpoint,- commercial or environmental.

The time line for this Marine Bill is tight and the conclusions of the consultation will be out soon. There is mention of Marine Protected Areas and Sustainability, maybe, just maybe we will have Marine Legislation and processes in place to deal with marine issues fit for the 21^st Century? Processes which will leave a legacy to our future generations.

Hebridean Partnership has been involved with the Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative since its inception several years ago. Of the four project areas the Sound of Mull appeared to be hindered by problems and it looked as if it may have faltered. With direction from the Scottish Executive Marine Directorate Hebridean Partnership wrote to the Minister asking for his assurance what it would go ahead, we received a positive reply and the SSMEI Sound of Mull Project started soon afterwards.

The SSMEI Sound of Mull Working Group was set up by Argyll and Bute SSMEI Project Officers. These officers appeared to “cherry pick” the members of the Working Group, then introduced a mechanism whereby other stakeholders would be subjected to restricted access.

Hebridean Partnership have been very keen and active with the SSMEI project and were somewhat bemused not to be included with the original Working Group membership. This matter was raised at the Argyll Marine Management Forum nearly a year ago. The relevant Project Officer stated that she would raise the issue of membership to the SSMEI Working Group. Almost a year passed and this had still not been done. Following numerous complaints by Hebridean Partnership members we were invited to give a short presentation to the Working Group, in order to be considered for membership.

Due to the lack of democratic process and the make-up of the Working Group, this was not an acceptable way forward, but reluctantly we agreed, but stated our concerns as regards, a “fruitless” exercise and of the potential outcome.

Needless to say, the SSMEI Working Group voted heavily in favour of Hebridean Partnership NOT to be included. We see this as an example of government and commercial intervention. One that clearly indicates the “weighting” of the Working Group in favour of the commercial sectors.

Hebridean Partnership attended Holyrood in order to support its Public Petitions Committee submission. The Scottish Parliamentary Petitions Committee have written to the Scottish Government, asking where they stand on marine environment issues.

The Cabinet Secretary for the Environment replied to the Petitions Committee and in his letter suggested that the Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative would be suitable for stakeholder involvement (see SSMEI above).

The SNP favour the Marine Bill approach, which if correctly conceived may provide an effective holistic approach to sustainability and environmentally friendly use of our seas resources but will the Scottish people, the stakeholders actually get the opportunity to influence the proceedings and actually have a say in the future of Scotland’s marine assets? The Hebridean Partnership submitted a response to the governments "Sustainable Seas for All" consultation, a copy is available from our downloads page.

Lismore Island is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for Common Seals Phoca vitulina. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) state, “…islands and skerries (which surround Lismore) which are extensively used as haul-outs by a nationally important population of the common seal Phoca vitulina”. SNH also state, “This represents one of the larger discrete colonies of common seals in the

”. ₍₁₎

The Lismore SAC formed part of the Hebridean Partnership complaint to the European Commission in 2004, on account, that a local fin fish farm was found to be and admitted to mass shooting of the seals in and around the SAC. Numerous seal carcases washed up upon local beaches and these incidents were highlighted in the local press at that time.

The mass shooting was reported to Argyll and Bute Council, SNH and the Scottish Executive. No apparent action was taken. The incidents were followed up by police and the SSPCA. No action was taken, despite being in contravention of the Habitats Directive.

The “Lismore Seal Management Group”, emerged and consisted of numerous fin fish farm operators and SNH. There was no representation from any conservation or welfare groups. Hebridean Partnership requested information from SNH, and received the copy of five sets of minutes from the Lismore Seal Management Group”. The contents of the minutes revealed numerous accounts referring to the Hebridean Partnership, not all of which were accurate. They also provided proof that the Lismore SAC was subject to “an adverse effect”, in direct contravention to the Habitats Directive.

Once again as with the initial complaint to Europe members of the Hebridean Partnership requested that local and national agencies and departments become involved, the EC Enforcement is also looking into the events surrounding the Lismore SAC.

There are several current “unknowns” concerning the

seal populations, the north and east coast populations have declined. A 40% decline in Orkney and Shetland ₍₂₎. The Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) which devastated seal populations in 1998 and 2002 has reoccurred in both

Denmark

and

Sweden

, a new yet unknown virus may also be present ₍₃₎.

Established boat operators and local people have reported to us that they believe that there are apparently fewer seals about compared with past years, this is in line with observations by members of the Hebridean Partnership.

Hebridean Partnership has undertaken detailed seal count surveys in and around the Lismore SAC. Several boat based counts reveal low numbers of seals, we intend undertaking many more surveys in order to ensure scientific robustness. Members of the Moray Firth Unit of Sky Watch (www.skywatch.org.uk ) have assisted us in conducting an aerial survey and we would like to pass our thanks to them.

The future for our local seal populations may be in question, especially the inshore populations. These are the seal populations that provide for healthy tourist industry revenue, boat trips to the “local seal colony” may become a thing of the past! We believe that now is the time to act, before it’s too late…the Precautionary Principle should be invoked now and a Seal Conservation Order be put in place nationally.

(1) SNH Eileanan agus Sgeiran Lios mόr Special Area of Conservation, Advice under Regulation 33(2) of The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) 30 March 2006. Annex B.

(2) Using sparse survey data to investigate the declining abundance of British harbour seals, Lonergan et el. NERC-SMRU (Journal of Zoology (2007), in press.

The Hebridean Partnership is seeking interested parties in the more remote rural and island communities. The idea is to create links with these areas and to produce a two-way information "highway". If you think you have what it takes or know someone that might fit the bill please contact us at info@hebrideanpartnership.org or through any of the links on our "contact us" page.