Seal licensing records: 2011-present

Marine Scotland received 53 applications for seal licences and 51 licences have been granted. Two licences are pending approval.

Table 1 below provides a full breakdown. (This information is correct as of 31 January 2015.)

The 29 licences issued for protection of health and welfare and one issued for prevention of serious damage, cover a total of 214 individual fish farms.

The maximum number of seals involved is 662 Grey and 197 Common. Table 2 below provides details. This maximum represents less than 0.7% of the Grey Seal population of 101,000 and 1% of the minimum Common Seal population of 20,700. The numbers are significantly lower than previous estimates proposed by non-government organisations at between 2,000 and 5,000. (This information is correct as at 31 January 2015.)

The maximum number of Grey Seals allowed on licences granted in 2014 represents over 1% reduction on numbers involved in the previous year's licences, and an over 25% reduction since the system was introduced in 2011.

The maximum number of Common Seals allowed on licences granted in 2015 represents a reduction of slightly over 16% compared to the previous year's licences, and an over 37% reduction since the system was introduced in 2011.

• The average level of shooting is around 20% for fifth year of operation.
• 44% of all licences have shot no seals at all during 2015.
• Licencees are following the principle that seals should only be shot as a last resort.
• Around 49% of shooting has occurred at fish farms and 51% at fisheries during the fifth year.
• Only 79 seals have been shot across 214 individual fish farms and 81 seals across over 40 river fisheries and netting stations during the fifth year.
• There was an overall reduction in the level of shooting in 2015: 21% lower compared to 2014 and 65% lower compared to 2011 figures.

A full list of licences issued in 2015, by region and company, with the number of seals shot so far, by site, is available to download.