Motion: Scottish Oceans Institute's Work on Seal Deaths and Population Decline

Scottish Oceans Institute's Work on Seal Deaths and Population Decline

Lodged by Roderick Campbell Members' Business Motion 23 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament notes what it considers to be the impressive work of the Scottish Oceans Institute (SOI), which is based at the University of St Andrews; understands that its mission is to “bring together the people, interdisciplinary skills and supporting scientific services necessary to deliver world class research in marine sciences”; praises what it believes to be the assiduous work into marine mammal research, particularly in relation to unexplained seal deaths and harbour seal decline; notes that recent publications have posited a new theory suggesting that grey seal predation is the cause of “corkscrew deaths” but that no definitive answer has yet been found to explain why seal numbers on Scotland’s coasts are declining so rapidly; commends the efforts of the staff and students at the SOI for their ongoing work; notes proposals for a brand-new building to accommodate the institute, and looks forward to further publications that may help to halt, and reverse, seal population decline.

Supporters (23)