Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to encourage the use of non-lethal seal deterrents on the coast.

Seal conservation is a devolved issue so I can only respond with respect to England. Approximately 85% of the UK seal population is in Scotland and the Scottish government have their own legislation concerning the protection of seals.

Seals in England are primarily protected by the Conservation of Seals Act 1970. Under this Act, it is an offence to take or kill common and grey seals out of season or to use certain methods to kill or take, unless permitted to do so by a licence issued under the Act.

Before an individual is granted a licence for the lethal control of any animal, including seals, they must first demonstrate that less severe alternatives have been exhausted or shown to be unworkable. Consequently, the existing arrangements already help to promote the use of non-lethal control.