PDA Seal Management

Practice Unit Learning Outcome 3

2 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2

Practice unit Learning Outcome 3

Contents: page

1. Learning Outcome 3 3

2. Post-Shooting Activities 3

3. Cleaning & Storage of Firearms 3

4. Recovery, Handling & Disposal of Carcass 4

5. Collection 5

6. Public Relations 6

7. Contacts 7

8. References & Further Reading 8

3 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2

Learning Outcome 3

Post-shooting activities

Always unload rifle prior to carcass recovery.

Unload rifle completely ensuring chamber and

magazine/housing are clear.

Double check the empty condition of the rifle before

placing it back into its slip.

Place rifle away from work area.

Cleaning & storage of firearms

If your rifle is wet from heavy rain, remove the worst of the

moisture using a towel.

If not heading straight home, find a secure location where you

can keep an eye on the weapon. Allow it to stand for an hour

or so, allowing the rifle and its furniture to adjust to indoor

temperature and for any condensation to dissipate.

Remember to let your gun bag/ box dry out as well.

Then set about drying it off properly. Wipe down all exposed

metalwork including barrel, breach, magazine, bolt, scope

mounts, sling mounting points, bi-pod etc. Dry off your sling as

well.

Clean the bore, using a proprietary brand of bore cleaner and

then very lightly lubricate. Wipe over all external metal

surfaces with a lightly oiled cloth. Take care to avoid getting oil

on the scope lenses.

Secure firearm in cabinet and where possible, provide

separate secure storage for bolt and ammunition.

Store in a cool, dry environment.

4 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2

Recovery, safe handling and disposal of

carcasses: The Scottish Government currently contracts the Scottish

Agricultural College, Inverness, to support the new seal

licensing system by recording and performing autopsies on

stranded seals in Scotland.

By law, marksmen must take all reasonable steps to

recover seal carcasses - but only when it is safe for them

to do so.

Valuable information can be gained from a seal carcass,

including confirmation of species identification, age, sex, diet

etc., so even a carcass which has been in the water for several

days should be retrieved, wherever possible.

When there is a carcass to be recovered:

Ensure that you do not put yourself in danger

Wear suitable heavy duty gloves

Move the seal carcass above the high water mark,

away from water to a discreet location to avoid the

carcass being washed away and any risk to public

health

If necessary, cover the carcass

Make a careful note of its exact location

After handling, wash and disinfect yourself thoroughly

Report details of any seal carcass including OS grid

reference, site details and your telephone number and

send to:

The Scottish Agricultural College Strandings Scheme,

Inverness.

Tel: 01463 243030 or 07979 245893 outside office hours.

E-mail: stranding@sac.co.uk

5 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2

Marine Scotland Topic Sheet No. 78 (available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/295194/0104520.pd

f) ‘Recovery and Reporting of Seals to the Scottish

Strandings Scheme’ states:

‘It is important that the report is made by someone who

has actually seen the seal carcass so that the best

possible description of the condition, size etc. of the

animal is available. The use of digital photographs can be

of great benefit in allowing assessment of the freshness

of the carcass. Many people now have mobile phones

with cameras and, if possible, pictures should be sent to

the Strandings Co-ordinator. This, along with accurate

location data and an estimate of the size of the carcass,

is very valuable. Local knowledge of suitable access for

collection is also useful.’

Collection

It is possible that some seal carcasses which are too badly

decomposed or too difficult to recover may not be collected by

the Strandings Scheme.

Seals can be very heavy. This means that mechanical

assistance is generally required when recovering a seal

carcase. The Strandings Scheme use a four wheel drive with a

winch in the loading platform is to collect seals for autopsy

examination.

If you have problems disposing of a seal carcass, seek advice

from the local office of the Scottish Environment Protection

Agency (SEPA).

Remember - you are not alone and are working as

part of a seal management team.

For further information please visit the following

websites:

Marine Scotland www.scotland.gov.uk/seallicensing

Scottish Strandings Scheme www.strandings.org

SEPA www.sepa.org.uk

6 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2

See Learning Outcome 1 of this Practice Unit for details of

Reporting & Recording Mechanisms & Procedures and

quarterly returns to Marine Scotland.

Public relations for seal management:

Candidates should be aware of the potential ethical issues that

may arise when involved in seal management activities. At all

times nominated marksmen must consider the potential

consequences of shooting a seal.

In order to maintain good public relations:

maintain close liaison with the local police

maintain close liaison with local representative of

Scottish Natural Heritage and local wildlife tourism

operators.

be aware of the aims of any local seal management

plan and be prepared to explain these.

explain the required action in polite and diplomatic

terms to interested members of the public.

when required, explain where further information can

be obtained by members of the public.

understanding of factors affecting public attitudes to

seal management in Scotland.

handle potential media enquires with sensitivity and in

a balanced way.

deal positively with challenges from members of the

public from an informed stance

Seal licencing is sometimes confused with seal culling and so

it is important to be able to explain the difference if asked to do

so:

Seal Culling: aims to reduce the overall seal population.

Seal Licencing: allows limited, local management of seal

predation in order to prevent serious damage to fisheries and

fish farms, or to protect the health and welfare of farmed fish.

7 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2

So, seal licencing seeks to achieve an appropriate

balance between seal conservation and sustainable

fisheries and aquaculture.

Marksmen are recommended to carry copies of Marine

Scotland’s Topic Sheets and their Frequently Asked Questions

(FAQs) relevant to seal management so they can advise the

public how and where to get more information, if necessary.

These Topic Sheets and FAQs are all available from the

Marine Scotland Seal Licensing website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Licensing/SealLicen

sing

Public relations are discussed more fully in Learning

Outcome 3 of the Seal Management: Theory Unit.

CONTACTS:

Enquiries about seal licensing can be directed to: Seal Licensing Marine Scotland Marine Laboratory PO Box 101 375, Victoria Road Aberdeen AB11 9DB Tel No:01224 295579 Enquiries about seal policy can be directed to: Ian Walker Marine Scotland Marine Planning and Policy Rm. 1A South Victoria Quay EDINBURGH EH6 6QQ Tel No: 0131 244 6568 E-mail: ian.walker@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

If the enquiries relate to specific issues they may be

redirected as appropriate.

8 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2

References

a Northridge, S.P., Gordon, J.G., Booth, C., Calderan, S.,

Cargill, A., Coram, A., Gillespie, D. Lonergan, M. and

Webb, A. (2011). Assessment of the impacts and utility of

acoustic deterrent devices. Final Report to the Scottish

Aquaculture Research Forum, Project Code SARF044. 34pp

b Harris, R. (2007). Assessing grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)

diet in western Scotland. MPhil Thesis. University of St

Andrews. 100pp.

c SCOS (2009). Scientific Advice on Matters Related to the

Management of Seal Populations: 2009. NERC Special

Committee on Seals. 100pp.

Further reading

The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 legislation. Available online

at:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/5/pdfs/asp_20100005_

en.pdf Only Part 6 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (pages

64 – 71) is relevant to seal conservation and management.

The Scottish Seal Management Code of Practice. Available

online at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/295194/0107958.pd

f.

HSE Leaflet AS7(rev) ‘Guns’. Available online at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/as7.pdf

Contents page