​Charity says college should look at seal deterrence, not shooting

An animal rights charity has reacted with fury after a college offered students the chance to shoot seals.

North Highland College, based in Thurso, offers a “practical shooting test” as part of its seal management qualification.

The college, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, said the aim of the award was to improve management practices, and to better protect seals.

In Scotland, it is illegal to kill or injure a seal except under licence or for welfare reasons or where the animals have been found to be causing serious damage to fish farms.

But the Save Our Seals Fund the said the college and government should focus on methods of deterring seals, rather than killing them.

The charity’s John Robins said problems arise because it is cheaper to shoot seals than to install deterrents such as anti-seal nets at fish farms.

He added: "I would suggest the college course should be about the development, installation and maintenance of anti-seal deterrents.

"This would help create highly technical jobs rather than part-time jobs in shooting seals."

A spokesperson for the college said: "This award was developed at the request of the Scottish Government to provide a national qualification in accordance with the requirements of the Marine (Scotland) Act, 2010.

"The provisions in the act are designed to increase protection for seals and improve the quality of seal management practices in Scotland.

"The primary aim of this qualification is to provide knowledge and skills in specified areas which will prepare candidates to apply for a licence to undertake seal management under the provisions of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.".

In Scotland, 18 common and 40 grey seals have been shot under licence this year so far.