£10,000 Reward Offered – Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon Farms in the Cross Hairs!

 

 

 

PR £10 000 Reward Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon 26 April 2021 #1

PR £10 000 Reward Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon 26 April 2021 #2

PR £10 000 Reward Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon 26 April 2021 #3

PR £10 000 Reward Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon 26 April 2021 #4

 

PR £10 000 Reward Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon 26 April 2021 #5

 

PR £10 000 Reward Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon 26 April 2021 #6


Download press release in full as a PDF online here

 

 

Photo #1 Taranaish seal in bin January 2020

 

Photo #2 Cooke bloody seal eyes popping out Unst December 2018

 

Photo #3 Dead seal Scottish Salmon Company Miavaig Vuia Mor January 2020

 

Photo #4 Dead seals in body bags Scottish Salmon Company Miavaig Vuia Mor January 2020

 

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch today (26 April 2021), filed another FOI request with Police Scotland and the Scottish Government (Marine Scotland) for further information which hopefully shed light on an apparent disconnect.

 

 

 

 

 

Read more via:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Addendum:

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 26, 2021 at 12:38 PM
Subject: FOI on Intelligence Reports "passed to Police Scotland" (& NWCU) re. seals killed in Scotland
To: CEU@gov.scot; foi@scotland.pnn.police.uk 

Please provide information on any Marine Scotland Intelligence Reports passed to Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit in relation to seals killed in Scotland since 1 January 2018.

 

As context, there appears to be a disconnect between information disclosed via a FOI reply provided on 1 April 2021 by the Scottish Government; namely:

 

SG letter 1 April 2021 Response-202100155371 #1 intelligence reports passed

 

Online via: Scottish Government FOI reply letter 1 April 2021 – 202100155371

 

 

And information reported today (26 April 2021) by The Ferret; namely:

 

"The new figures on police investigations emerged after campaign group Scottish Salmon Watch (SSW) submitted a freedom of information (FoI) request to the Scottish Government asking for information on the illegal killing of seals. SSW also asked for information on breaches of seal licences by salmon farmers since 1 January 2018. The Scottish Government’s reply revealed its fisheries agency Marine Scotland passed intelligence reports on seal killings to Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) six times. NWCU supports police forces across the UK. From codes provided by the Scottish Government in its reply, SSW said incidents investigated included four seals killed in Basta Voe in August 2018. Police Scotland told The Ferret it had been made aware of fines given but that no further police action was required. Police Scotland said it had also been informed about two dead seals recovered from Crosskirk Bay, Thurso on 13 May, 2019 and that “relevant advice was given to the agency who contacted police”.

 

 

In addition to the Ferret's news report this morning, Police Scotland told The Ferret:

 

"We’ve contacted a number of officers in relation to the enquiry you forwarded us yesterday.  For your guidance, here is our information on the incidents you refer to:

 

Basta Voe, August 2018 – Police were made aware of the fines given and no further police action was required.

 

Kylesku Bridge, September 2018 – not reported to Police Scotland

 

Wick of Belmont, April 2019 – not reported to Police Scotland.  However, we were made aware of two dead seals recovered from Crosskirk Bay, Thurso on 13 May, 2019 and the relevant advice was given to the agency who contacted police.

 

Uig Bay, September, 2019 – not reported to Police Scotland.

 

Loch Ewe, January, 2020 – not reported to Police Scotland."

 

 

 

I Tweeted earlier today on the differences in the Scottish Government's disclosure via FOI and the information supplied by Police Scotland (presumably via their press office) to the Ferret.

 

Tweet 26 April 2021

Online via: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1386629913445376000

 

You can obviously reply directly to this Tweet but this FOI effectively asks for further clarity to explain the apparent contradiction in the information supplied by the Scottish Government compared to the information supplied by Police Scotland.

 

To be clear, please provide copies of the Marine Scotland Intelligence Reports 'passed' by the Scottish Government to Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

 

Please also provide any information – including any emails – which may assist in explaining the differences in the information provided by the Scottish Government and Police Scotland.

 

Please include any emails and correspondence with the Ferret in relation to seals killed by salmon farms in Scotland since 1 February 2021.

 

Please also provide any information discussing the FOI request and reply via FOI- 2021-00155371.

 

Please also provide any information discussing any reaction to this morning's Ferret article and Scottish Salmon Watch press release.

 

Read more via:

The Ferret: "£10,000 reward for information on illegal seal killing after police asked to investigate deaths"

£10,000 Reward Offered – Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon Farms in the Cross Hairs!

FOI Disclosure: Seal Licence Breaches by Salmon Farms (reply by Scottish Government on 1 April 2021)

 

 

 

Please consider this a formal request for information via the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.

 

Please provide the information electronically.

 

Please provide a receipt for this FOI request. 

 

Thanks,

 

Don Staniford, Director of Scottish Salmon Watch

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