MINUTES OF THE 4
th MEETING OF THE SEALS FORUM
THURSDAY 11
th MARCH 2004 , THISTLE HOTEL, INVERNESS
Attendees
Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs
Department (SEERAD)
Sea Mammal Research Unit, St Andrews
Scottish Natural
Heritage
Fisheries Research Services Freshwater
Laboratory
Fisheries Research Services Marine
Laboratory
Joint Nature Conservation
Committee
University Marine Biological Station
Millport
Lighthouse Field Station, Cromarty
University of Aberdeen
Countryside Council for Wales
Highlands & Islands Fishermen's
Association
Scottish White Fish Producers
Association
Spey Fishery Board
Salmon Net Fishing
Association
Tourism and Environment Forum
Scottish SPCA
Welcome and Introductions
The Chair welcomed everybody to the fourth meeting of
the Seals Forum and indicated that the main purpose of this
meeting was to discuss the recommendations of the Working
Group and to agree the next steps.
Minutes of the third meeting and matters
arising
All participants agreed the minutes of the
previous meeting as a fair record of events.
The Forum reviewed the action points arising from
the previous meeting. The majority had been completed,
although there were a few that were currently
ongoing.
SMRU/FRS to meet to review funding sources
for future research/modelling. It was noted that there are ongoing discussions
between FRS and SMRU on this issue. Proposals developed to
date, have not attracted funding, but there is the
possibility that funding could be made available in the
next few months through the Scottish Executives Environment
Group Bids.
Working Group to look at other sources of
research and how this could fit in with the SCOS
remit. This has had been done through the working papers on
the four activity areas and was one of the items for
discussion.
SMRU to approach NERC about reallocating the
survey budget to research purposes. Ian Boyd raised with SCOS the possibility of decreasing the
annual grey seal survey to once every two years in order to
release money for research projects. The view of SCOS was
that SMRU should not move away from annual surveys because:
1) it is not know what effect a decrease in survey will
have on the quality of population estimates - modelling
will be required to investigate this; and 2) the recent
changes in grey seal pup production, and the apparent
stabilisation of pup production at some colonies, mean that
regular monitoring is likely to be particularly productive.
Action: To review again in early
2005.
Mike Flynn to investigate firearms licensing
procedure. Mike Flynn provided a paper summarising the
procedures followed by police forces around Scotland .
Legislative Matrix and notes.
Action: SEERAD to produce final version of
matrix and re-circulate to Forum and publish on
website.
Advice from the Special Committee on Seals
(SCOS) - 2003 Annual Report
The Chair thanked the Special Committee on Seals
(SCOS) for producing the annual scientific advice and
the Working Group for preparing a series of the
recommendations based on this advice for the Forum to
consider.
Questions 1, 2 and 5 (seal populations and
their distribution)
The Forum acknowledged the uncertainties involved in
estimating seal population size and distribution
patterns. However, they agreed that improvements in
population modelling techniques and more satellite tagging
operations would help to reduce these uncertainties.
The Forum endorsed the Working Group
recommendation that the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)
continue to refine estimates of seal population and
distribution patterns.
Questions 3 and 4 (seal predation on fish)
The Forum considered that more research was necessary
to reduce uncertainties and to obtain more reliable
estimates of fish consumption. One point of
particular concern to the Forum was that, following the
current diet study, there would be a need to regularly
update the information after its completion.
Action: Working Group to look at how the diet study
work can be continued, drawing on similar research
currently underway in the UK .
The Forum endorsed the Working Group
recommendations.
Question 6 (seal bycatch)
The Forum noted that, while there is no formal
monitoring of seal bycatch in fishing nets, evidence
collected through FRS's ongoing fisheries observer
programme and SMRU's cetacean observer scheme suggest that
seal bycatch in UK fisheries is at a low level.
However, they agreed that there was a general patchiness in
data both at a European and
UK level, emphasising the need to tap into data from
other countries.
Action: MT to approach ICES for information
on seal bycatch in European fisheries.
FRS to maintain formal records of seal
bycatch [and approach Danish colleagues for information on
seal bycatch in the sand eel fishery.]
In addition, Stephen Westcott offered information on
seal bycatch and damage to fisheries in Cornwall .
The Forum endorsed the Working Group
recommendations.
Questions 7 and 8 (data from fishermen, fish
farms and wildlife tour operators)
The Forum noted that there was a need for more
information on interactions between seals and humans in the
four activity areas. Of particular concern, is the
lack of information on seals shot outwith the 'close
season' which adds to the degree of uncertainty that exists
in population estimates.
It was hoped that a common approach to data
collection and quality control would allow data to be
collected locally and used for scientific purposes.
Action: SMRU to report to the Working Group on the
outcome of the initiative to develop methods of systematic
data collection.
The Forum endorsed the recommendation that the
Working Group actively pursue a common approach to data
collection.
Questions 9 and 10 (seal impact on the
recovery of cod and salmon stocks)
In order to address the impact of seal predation on
the recovery of cod and salmon stocks, the Forum agreed
that these two fisheries would need to be considered
separately rather than as one specific
recommendation. The Forum also felt that there was
still a considerable degree of uncertainty and lack of
conclusive data on the overall effects of seal predation,
which could not be determined until more information became
available.
In particular, it was hoped that the ongoing
diet study in the
Moray Firth would provide some information on seal diet and their
impact on salmonid stocks.
Action: SEERAD to circulate the results of
the Moray Firth diet study to Forum members.
The Forum felt that the current Working Group
recommendation should be returned to the Group for
reconsideration, to clarify where research might best be
focused to reduce the uncertainties. The revised
recommendation to be circulated to Forum with the draft
SCOS questions for 2004.
Action: The Working Group to reconsider the
recommendation, and circulate to the Forum.
Question 12 (seals and SAC's)
The general consensus of the Forum was that a range
of terms used in the Habitats Directive for instance,
favourable conservation status, required working
definitions. This would provide a sound basis for
future management.
Action: SEERAD and SNH to look into improving the
interpretation of European legislation regarding seals and
SACs.
The Forum endorsed the Working Group
recommendation.
Questions 11, and 13 to 15 (favourable
conservation status, impact of PDV and the future
of the Conservation Order)
The Forum endorsed the Working Group recommendation
that the current Conservation Order introduced to protect
seals during the recent PDV outbreak, should be allowed to
run its course until September 2004 and that there was no
requirement for another Order with respect to the risk from
PDV. The Forum also agreed that at the current time
there was no justification to introduce another Order in
Scotland , although this decision would be kept under review
pending the outcome of the Moray Firth Seal Management
Plan.
The Forum noted SCOS's views about the specific
situation in the Moray Firth and discussed what appropriate measures might be
taken. The Forum was provided with a brief overview of
ASFB's Moray Firth Management Plan which emphasised the
need for a co-ordinated and flexible approach to future
seal management in this region and the need for all
interested bodies to be actively involved to ensure that it
was consistent with the legislative framework currently in
place.
The Forum supported the aims of the Moray Firth Seal
Management Plan but emphasised the need to develop it and
to include, for example, non-lethal removal options.
Action: SWG to pursue development of
the Moray Firth Seal Management Plan to address specific
management issues in this area and report to
Forum.
Working Group Papers on the four identified
activity areas
The Forum reviewed the three Working Papers submitted
from Andrew Wallace (Wild Salmon Fisheries), William
Shearer (Salmon Net Fisheries) and Caroline Warburton (Seal Tourism).
William Shearer offered to support SEERAD's seal
scarer project and Alistair Prior suggest Scottish
Aquaculture Forum as possible sources of funds. Action: SMRU to explore with WS and
AP.
Drafting Questions for the Special Committee on
Seals (SCOS) - 2004
The Forum noted that the Working Group will meet in
early May 2004 to draft questions for SCOS which will be
circulated to the Forum for comment, prior to submission to
SCOS in late June 2004.
AOB
The fifth meeting of the Seals Forum will be held
on Monday 3 March 2005 at either Perth or Pitlochry. Action: SEERAD to confirm arrangements to Forum
members.
top