Seals
Certain species of wild mammals are protected under their own
legal provisions.
In Great Britain, legislation, which extends to territorial
waters, prohibits certain methods of killing seals, which include
using poison or firearms other than a rifle. A person taking or
killing a seal will not be guilty of an offence if a disabled seal
is taken solely for the purpose of tending it and then returning it
to the wild after treatment, or if a seal is accidentally killed as
the result of an otherwise lawful action. It is not an offence to
kill a seal for the purpose of preventing damage to fishing nets or
tackle or if the seal is so disabled that there is no chance of
recovery. The killing, injuring or taking of grey seals and common
seals in their close seasons is prohibited; the close seasons
relate to their respective breeding seasons. Extension to the close
season can be made on a temporary basis by Order. There is
currently a total prohibition on the killing, injuring and taking
of common seals in Scotland and a more limited geographical
restriction concerning grey seals. Licences can be granted by the
appropriate Minister, which permits a person to carry out an
otherwise prohibited act for the purpose of science, education,
zoos, to reduce surplus numbers and to prevent damage to fisheries.
In Northern Ireland, there is no individual legislation which
protects seals, however, grey and common seals are listed on the
appropriate Schedule of the main legislation.
Specific legislation for seals is in the Conservation of Seals
Act 1970. The close season for seals in (some areas of) Scotland
was extended by the Conservation of Seals (Scotland) Order
2002.