Further call for seal cull debate

The association said seals are eating more cod than they catch

The Mallaig and North-west Fishermen's Association has added its voice to a call for a debate on a seal cull.

Culling was stopped in the late 1970s and fishermen have said seals are to blame for declining numbers of commercial fish stocks.

Grey seals are protected under the EC Habitats Directive.

Edinburgh-based animal protection organisation, Advocate for Animals, said there was "no scientific justification" for a cull.

The Scottish Executive said the seal population has increased since 1985, but added that further studies must be done on their impact.

Fish stocks

Mallaig and North-west Fishermen's Association secretary Iain Hermse said that west coast fishermen caught less than 1,000 tonnes of cod, a fraction of that eaten by seals.

However, he said seals were not seen as a threat to fish stocks.

Ross Minett, director of Advocates for Animals, said: "There is no scientific justification for a cull of Scottish seals.

"It would undoubtedly be terribly damaging to Scotland's international reputation and lead to calls for economic and tourism boycotts.

"You just need to look at the consequences of Canada's mass cull of seals or Iceland's return to commercial whaling."