Publication - Factsheet
Marine mammals topic sheet: taking or killing a seal to alleviate suffering
Guidance on the conditions when you may take or kill a seal if it is suffering and how to report it.
Ending a seal's life humanely
Section 108(1) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 allows you to humanely end a seal's life (or injure it while attempting to do so) if:
- the seal has been seriously injured or disabled through no fault of your own
- it has no reasonable chance of recovering
- ending its life is the only way to stop its suffering
- doing so will not harm the conservation of any seal species in its natural range
Taking a seal to help it recover
Section 108(2) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 allows you to take a seal (or kill or injure it while attempting to do so) if:
- the seal has been disabled through no fault of your own
- you are taking it only to care for it and release it once it has recovered
- you take it in a way that avoids unnecessary suffering
- taking it is the only way to help it recover
- doing so will not harm the conservation of any seal species in its natural range
What you need to do
If you have had to take or kill a seal for the reasons set out above, please download and complete a reporting form.
Please return the form:
- by email: marinemammalreporting@gov.scot
- by post: Marine Directorate, Mailbox 11, Area 1B South, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ
An excel spreadsheet version of the reporting form is also available, should you prefer to report in this format.
