Seal Cull

[Seal diver]

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.

[PW1664]

Shame... How could they !

[Fiona]

I don't know if I am correct but the fisherman interviewed and advocating a seal cull was David Shiel, could he be a family member to Billy Shiel who does seal and diving trips.

If so there must be family friction and if Billy Shiel doesn't care then I certainly won't be using the Glad Tidings boats.

[Kalahari Diver]

I think the fish stocks problems goes much deeper than excess of seals, but at the risk of considerable flak, can't we put forward reasoned arguments rather than cuddly pictures. If we only choose to look after the species that are attractive we are on a steep and slippery slope.

Just my 2p worth.

David.

[Colin Marriott]

Hmmmm . . . .






ColinM

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by Kalahari Diver

I think the fish stocks problems goes much deeper than excess of seals, but at the risk of considerable flak, can't we put forward reasoned arguments rather than cuddly pictures. If we only choose to look after the species that are attractive we are on a steep and slippery slope.

Just my 2p worth.

David.

I agree 100%. Seals (as any Innuit will tell you) are edible... Culling them to save fish stocks will not work. They are also fun to dive with. However, if you care about seals it is far more important to save their food species and to ensure we look after the remote beaches they use to give birth. Happily the latter seems to be well cared for in the UK but the decimation of seal's natural food stocks continues unabated. Saving them from a bullet and condemning them to starve is not an answer.

We need more marine no-take areas. If anyone has a bright idea how to get them let us all know.

Chris

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by Kalahari Diver

I think the fish stocks problems goes much deeper than excess of seals, but at the risk of considerable flak, can't we put forward reasoned arguments rather than cuddly pictures. If we only choose to look after the species that are attractive we are on a steep and slippery slope.

Just my 2p worth.

David.

Perhaps we could have a Chav cull?
Think of the problems it would solve,,,
Fish n chip sales would halve,,
None of them would breed,, giving rise to even less fish n chip consumption,,,
Gone would be the half eatens left strewn down our street !!!!

Sounds like a good, environmently sound, peice of social engineering!!

[Hazel W]

Originally Posted by Timbo

Perhaps we could have a Chav cull?
Sounds like a good, environmently sound, peice of social engineering!!

brings a new meaning to going out clubbing at night !


H

[Stesh]

Originally Posted by Fiona

I don't know if I am correct but the fisherman interviewed and advocating a seal cull was David Shiel, could he be a family member to Billy Shiel who does seal and diving trips.

If so there must be family friction and if Billy Shiel doesn't care then I certainly won't be using the Glad Tidings boats.

Well David Shiel

of
Golden Promise
Seems to have changed his mind since saying this a while ago:-

Seahouses skipper David Shiel, chairman of the Anglo-Scottish Fishermen's Association, said: "This is just the latest in a long line of fudged decisions to come out of Europe against Britain's best interests. Until we get a minister with a backbone who goes to Brussels and beats the drum on our behalf, we will never get anywhere with this lot.


"If you take a boat out of any North-East port, you will see any amount of codlings.


"The adult fish have simply moved elsewhere, mainly to the North, where they are being swept up by the Norwegians and Russians in huge quantities.


"They are then selling them back to the British market, while our own fishermen can't get a decent price for their catch.


"It's a disgraceful situation."

[RogerViking]

how many fishermen live in the sea do you know. i think seals have more of a right to fish than we do....unless the seals are planing to cull some of mankind ..that would be a welcome change throw some whalers at them.

Rog