Seal licensing records: 2011-present

Marine Scotland received 74 applications for seal licences and 66 licences were granted. Table 1 below provides a full breakdown. (This information is correct as at 31 May 2012).

* The 32 licences issued under health and welfare cover a total of 235 individual fish farms. 34 licences were initally issued - two additional licences were issued at a later date, two further licences issued during the year - but each of these was an amalgamation of three existing licences.

The maximum number of seals involved is 1025 grey and 314 common. Table 2 below provides details. This maximum represents less than 1% of the grey seal population of 108,000 and slightly over 1.5% of the minimum common seal population of 20,400. The numbers are significantly lower than previous estimates proposed by Non Government Organisations at between 2,000 and 5,000. (This information is correct as at 10 January 2013).

The 12 month total of 366 grey seals represents only 0.3% of the overall grey seal population of 108,000.

* includes one unidentified seal counted as a common seal

** includes two unidentified seals counted as common seals

The 12 month total of 93 common seals represents only 0.4% of the minimum common seal population of 20,400.

For more information, a series of frequently asked questions and answers on the implementation of the new seal legislation has been produced.