Jail for Shetland seal killer

Wednesday, 25 March 2009 00:00

The Shetland fisherman who clubbed 21 grey seal pups to death in November last year has been jailed for 80 days under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996.

In response to the sentencing of James Stewart who plead guilty to killing 21 seal pups on the Shetland Isle of East Linga, Advocates for Animals' Campaigns Director, Ross Minett, said:

“We welcome the Sheriff’s decision to award a custodial sentence and by doing so to acknowledge the severity and brutality of the offence. What worries us, however, is that the prosecution could never have been brought if had had to rely on the Conservation of Seals Act which, bizarrely, allows thousands of seals to be killed – perfectly legally – in Scotland every year."

"Advocates for Animals continues its call for an outright ban on the killing of seals, supported by 75% of the public and undoubtedly by the outraged majority of Shetlanders who are appalled by the actions of James Stewart. The Scottish Government has an opportunity to give seals full legal protection in the forthcoming Marine Bill and we call on them to do so urgently.”