Seals were killed in Scotland because, as natural predators of fish, they could be seen as pests by fishing interests including anglers, coastal salmon netsmen, fish farmers and sea fishermen.

Seals are naturally attracted to salmon in cages and nets, where they can cause damage.

This report was produced by Advocates for Animals (OneKind) to explain the animal welfare implications of shooting seals and, in particular, why Scotland was not meeting the standards set down and internationally accepted as guidance on humane killing of mammals, both domesticated and wild.

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