Containment – Predator nets
Seals of disapproval LOOKING TOWARDS A MORE HUMANE APPROACH TO PREDATORS T 18
he havoc that predators can wreak in fi sh farms cannot be understated. A deter- mined seal, for example, can
decimate a fi sh cage in no time at all. This leads to loss of revenue, either through mortality, escapes or indeed both. However, there is also the issue of fi sh welfare to consider. Under the provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, farmers have a duty to protect fi sh under their care from harm and unnecessary suffering.
The Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfi sh Aquaculture states the main Scottish predatory ani- mal species as: ‘seals, otters, mink, herons and cormorants, along with
some other species of
birds...It is good practice to anticipate and prevent predation, and to adopt the correct management of pre- dation problems when they occur. Effective predator control is site specifi c and subject to legislation.’ Seals are by far the biggest threat to Scottish farmed fi nfi sh are seals. Scotland has two species of seal: the common or harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), both of which are protected. However, the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 allows for the shooting of a restricted number of seals under licence as a last resort, where, the Code of Good Practice states, ‘properly applied anti-predator measures fail
to control the problem’. There are a number of con- ditions relating to the licence, which must be applied for on an annual basis, including: the use of
a nominated marksman with the necessary training or certifi cation; the use of a specifi c fi rearm; a defi ned maximum range to target; the removal of carcasses wher-
“
The issue of fish farmers shooting seals has led to a number of violent clashes
www.fishfarmer-magazine.com
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