It took a freedom of Information request to find out the number of Scottish salmon farmers who were issued licences to shoot seals and the numbers shot, to protect their salmon farmed stocks. Animal rights campaigners have wanted to make the numbers public so as sway public opinion on the practice. Salmon farms were named in the release but salmon farmers felt their safety was put at risk. One spokesperson for a salmon farm was quoted:
“Seals attack our cages, killing and damaging salmon and tearing nets which may end in salmon escaping.”
One farm lost almost $6 million in one year due to seals attacking their stocks. The full article from the BBC can be found here