Chamber and committees

The basis for the potential biological removal (PBR) figures, which takes account of the latest population trends, can be found on the Marine Scotland web-site at:

http://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Licensing/SealLicensing/PBR.

Marine Scotland has made no site visits specifically to assess the use of non-lethal methods of deterring seals. Instead Marine Scotland is currently supporting a number of scientific research studies on seal predation and the practicality and effectiveness of non-lethal measures in preventing this with a view to producing advice for both fisheries and fish farms.

A number of seal licences issued in 2011 and also in 2012 include, where considered appropriate, specific additional conditions restricting the numbers of seals killed during key breeding seasons. Marine Scotland will continue to monitor this issue and introduce additional restrictions if necessary.

A wide variety of non-lethal options have been reported as having been attempted in river fisheries and netting stations but this has been accompanied by little or no scientific assessment of their effectiveness. The increasing use of practical and effective non-lethal seal management measures in river fisheries and netting stations depends on progress with scientific research on seal predation and the practicality and effectiveness of non-lethal measures in preventing this. Marine Scotland is currently undertaking important research in this area with a view to producing advice for fisheries.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39492 on 4 March 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05609 on 9 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The UK by catch observer programme, between 1996 and 2010, has records for 1,552 observed trips on vessels using static net fishing gear in ICES Area IV and ICES area VII. These trips have resulted in 10,666 hauls being observed with only 74 hauls resulting in accidental bycatch of seabirds

For 2010 and 2011 Marine Scotland’s observer programme was active on 129 pelagic and demersal trawl fishing trips in ICES Area IV and ICES area VI. No accidental by catches of seabirds were observed on these trips.

In 2011 there was a bycatch of 17 fulmars in the longline fishery by vessels from other member states, operating in ICES area VI. Additional monitoring in this fishery is currently being investigated to ascertain any impacts.

Based on the low level of observations of accidental by catch it is unlikely that there is a negative impact on seabird populations, or the favourable conservation status of special protections areas.

The seal licence conditions specify that seals cannot be shot on land. In the first three quarters of 2011, 162 seals were shot near fish farms and 200 seals were shot in rivers, estuaries and near coastal netting stations. None were shot in the open sea outwith these areas.

Red squirrels are one of the species included in SNH’s Species Action Framework and are a focus for practical action. SNH prepared an interim Grey Squirrel Control Strategy following public consultation in April 2010. The Strategy sets out locations where grey squirrel control is most likely to benefit red squirrel conservation. Targeted grey squirrel control is currently being carried out through two public and NGO partnership projects; Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (in the north-east of Scotland, Tayside and Loch Lomond and Trossachs) and Red Squirrels in South Scotland. These projects are co-ordinating grey squirrel control and at the same time attempting to measure the costs and the benefits to red squirrels.

Scottish Natural Heritage is to provide funding of £350,000 for the Saving Red Squirrels Project between 2012-14.

Additionally, the Scottish Government has committed funding of £2,733,930 between 2012 and 2016 to projects under the Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme, for red squirrel conservation.

Forestry Commission Scotland has also committed £500,000 between 2012-16 for the conservation of red squirrels in Scotland.