Description
Control of seal
Key locations
Throughout the North Northumberland and Berwickshire coast
Frequency of Activity
Continuous
Organisations with relevant management powers or responsibilities
| Organisation | Description of powers or responsibilities |
| Marine Scotland |
|
| Marine Management Organisation |
|
Relevant Legislation (England)
A number of legal powers, duties or regulatory tools exist which are relevant to this activity and its management. These are summarised in the table below:
| Legal Powers or Duties | Legislation | Lead Organisation |
| Protection of seals from killing or injury | Conservation of Seals Act 1970 (Section 1) as modified by the Fisheries Act 2020 (Schedule 9) | Marine Management Organisation |
| All year protection of seals from being killed, injured or taken on the east coast | The Conservation of Seals (England) Order 1999 | Marine Management Organisation |
| Prohibition on methods for trapping or killing of seals | Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (Regulation 45)
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (Section 11) |
Marine Management Organisation |
| Requirement for all Competent Authorities to undertake a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) before granting permission for plans or projects | The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (Regulation 63)
As modified by the Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 |
DEFRA |
Relevant Legislation (Scotland)
A number of legal powers, duties or regulatory tools exist which are relevant to this activity and its management. These are summarised in the table below:
| Legal Powers or Duties | Legislation | Lead Organisation |
| Offence of intentionally or recklessly killing, injuring or taking a seal at any time of year, except under licence or for welfare reasons | Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (Section 107) | Marine Scotland |
| Designation of protected seal haul out areas | Protection of Seals (Designation of Haul-out Sites) (Scotland) Order 2014 | Marine Scotland |
| Prohibition on use of certain methods for trapping or killing of seals | The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (Regulation 41)
As modified by The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 |
Marine Scotland |
Relevant Guidance, Plans or Codes (Scotland)
| Name | Description | Responsible Organisation | Statutory or Non-Statutory? |
| Guidance on the Offence of Harassment at Seal Haul-out Sites (June 2014) | Guidance on Part 6 of The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 about the offence of seal harassment | Marine Scotland | Non-Statutory |
Details of Current Management (England)
Seals in England are protected under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 (CoSA), as modified by the Fisheries Act 2020. This later amendment makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly kills, injures or takes a seal. The Fisheries Act significantly increased the protection given to seals and removed the so-called ‘netman’s defence’. However, there is a general exemption for taking a seal which is disabled for the sole purpose of tending and releasing it when no longer disabled, or killing a seal which was so seriously disabled that there was no reasonable chance of its recovering.
In contrast to Scottish legislation, there are no specific measures in the Act dealing with disturbance of seals.
The Northumberland and Tyneside coast falls within the area covered by The Conservation of Seals (England) Order 1999.
Grey seal is one of the designated features of the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC. As a result, an application for any licence or consent which potentially impacts on grey seal may require a Habitats Regulations Assessment prior to any consent being given.
The MMO and the police enforce the Conservation of Seals Act in England. Monitoring of populations is carried out by Sea Mammals Research Unit (SMRU) and advice is provided by the statutory nature conservation bodies (Natural England and Joint Nature Conservation Committee) as to risks to the population and whether management measures are required. MMO liaises with the IFCAs and other bodies through the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife (PAW) Marine wildlife enforcement working group. Shooting incidents are reported to either the MMO or the police.
A more detailed note on seals and the laws is available in our guide to Marine Wildlife and the Law
Details of Current Management (Scotland)
Legislation covering the protection of seals differs significantly in England and in Scotland.
Under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take a seal at any time of year, except under licence or for welfare reasons. The number of seals that can be shot in any given year is informed by the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) (number of individual seals that can be removed from the population without causing a decline in the population) which is calculated annually by Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) using the latest seal counts. The seal licensing process considers all Special Areas of Conservation individually and collectively. Grey seal is one of the designated features of the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC. As a result, an application for any licence or consent which potentially impacts on grey seal may require a Habitats Regulations Appraisal prior to any consent being given.
It is also an offence to intentionally or recklessly harass seals at significant haul-out sites under the Protection of Seals (Designation of Haul-out Sites) (Scotland) Order 2014. One of the designated seal haul-out sites is located between Dunbar and Eyemouth. A map of this area can be found at https://www2.gov.scot/Resource/0045/00454620.pdf
A more detailed note on seals and the laws is available in our guide to Marine Wildlife and the Law
Gaps in Knowledge and Management (England)
It is unclear whether the changes in protection to seals by the Fisheries Act 2020 and the removal of the ‘Netsman’s Defence’ are widely known. More work may be needed to promote this.