Some of you may be aware (Countryfile BBC1 today 5th Nov) that fishermen are calling for seal cull!
They are blaming seals for their reduced catches.
The facts are a little different:
The Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), St Andrews Uni recently published a paper confirming that grey seals take on average less than 1% of the total stock biomass (TSB) of fish in the North sea.
Cod they take about 3% of the TSB - why? because the TSB of cod has been depleted so much by overfishing that the % taken by seals is proportionally slightly more.
The real culprit is overfishing driven by mans' greed! The role of factory ships and governement quotas need to be reviewed!
The local fisherman might lose a few fish to seals but the answer, when the "big picture" is reviewed is NOT a seal cull!
Please ensure anyone you speak to about this knows the facts.
Thanks,
Ben. ("Sealdiver")
Seals up close: YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.