The Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organization (SSPO) is firing back at the Seal Protection Action Group (SPAG), brushing off a poll that found nearly two-thirds of UK consumers favor changing the law allowing fish farmers to kill seals.
“It is a highly misleading survey containing a series of leading questions designed to elicit a reaction,” said the SSPO on Wednesday. “Scottish fish farmers are absolutely infuriated that these campaigners continue to peddle unfounded and utterly inaccurate information about how we safeguard our salmon from predators.”
Under 1970’s Conservation of Seals Act, Scottish fish farmers are permitted to kill seals to protect their fish. They also employ a range of acoustic and netting tactics to deter seals from attacking pens and devouring hundreds of fish, said the SSPO.
Last year, fish farmers shot 489 seals, noted the organization. But the SPAG claims fish farmers and fishermen slaughter up to 5,000 seals annually.
More than half (58 percent) of respondents to a survey released on Monday said retailers should not buy salmon from fish farmers who kill seals, and 53 percent said they would pay more for salmon raised in a farm that doesn’t kill seals. YouGov conducted the online poll of 1,990 adults between 21 and 23 July; it was administered by the SPAG and International Animal Rescue.
“Everything we do is aimed at developing the industry in a positive and sustainable way,” said the SSPO. “Ill-informed hysteria from campaigners is very unhelpful.”
