pda seal management practice unit learning outcome 3 · see learning outcome 1 of this practice...
TRANSCRIPT
PDA Seal Management
Practice Unit Learning Outcome 3
2 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2
Practice unit Learning Outcome 3
Contents: page
1. Learning Outcome 3 3
2. Post-Shooting Activities 3
3. Cleaning & Storage of Firearms 3
4. Recovery, Handling & Disposal of Carcass 4
5. Collection 5
6. Public Relations 6
7. Contacts 7
8. References & Further Reading 8
3 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2
Learning Outcome 3
Post-shooting activities
Always unload rifle prior to carcass recovery.
Unload rifle completely ensuring chamber and
magazine/housing are clear.
Double check the empty condition of the rifle before
placing it back into its slip.
Place rifle away from work area.
Cleaning & storage of firearms
If your rifle is wet from heavy rain, remove the worst of the
moisture using a towel.
If not heading straight home, find a secure location where you
can keep an eye on the weapon. Allow it to stand for an hour
or so, allowing the rifle and its furniture to adjust to indoor
temperature and for any condensation to dissipate.
Remember to let your gun bag/ box dry out as well.
Then set about drying it off properly. Wipe down all exposed
metalwork including barrel, breach, magazine, bolt, scope
mounts, sling mounting points, bi-pod etc. Dry off your sling as
well.
Clean the bore, using a proprietary brand of bore cleaner and
then very lightly lubricate. Wipe over all external metal
surfaces with a lightly oiled cloth. Take care to avoid getting oil
on the scope lenses.
Secure firearm in cabinet and where possible, provide
separate secure storage for bolt and ammunition.
Store in a cool, dry environment.
4 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2
Recovery, safe handling and disposal of
carcasses: The Scottish Government currently contracts the Scottish
Agricultural College, Inverness, to support the new seal
licensing system by recording and performing autopsies on
stranded seals in Scotland.
By law, marksmen must take all reasonable steps to
recover seal carcasses - but only when it is safe for them
to do so.
Valuable information can be gained from a seal carcass,
including confirmation of species identification, age, sex, diet
etc., so even a carcass which has been in the water for several
days should be retrieved, wherever possible.
When there is a carcass to be recovered:
Ensure that you do not put yourself in danger
Wear suitable heavy duty gloves
Move the seal carcass above the high water mark,
away from water to a discreet location to avoid the
carcass being washed away and any risk to public
health
If necessary, cover the carcass
Make a careful note of its exact location
After handling, wash and disinfect yourself thoroughly
Report details of any seal carcass including OS grid
reference, site details and your telephone number and
send to:
The Scottish Agricultural College Strandings Scheme,
Inverness.
Tel: 01463 243030 or 07979 245893 outside office hours.
E-mail: [email protected]
5 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2
Marine Scotland Topic Sheet No. 78 (available at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/295194/0104520.pd
f) ‘Recovery and Reporting of Seals to the Scottish
Strandings Scheme’ states:
‘It is important that the report is made by someone who
has actually seen the seal carcass so that the best
possible description of the condition, size etc. of the
animal is available. The use of digital photographs can be
of great benefit in allowing assessment of the freshness
of the carcass. Many people now have mobile phones
with cameras and, if possible, pictures should be sent to
the Strandings Co-ordinator. This, along with accurate
location data and an estimate of the size of the carcass,
is very valuable. Local knowledge of suitable access for
collection is also useful.’
Collection
It is possible that some seal carcasses which are too badly
decomposed or too difficult to recover may not be collected by
the Strandings Scheme.
Seals can be very heavy. This means that mechanical
assistance is generally required when recovering a seal
carcase. The Strandings Scheme use a four wheel drive with a
winch in the loading platform is to collect seals for autopsy
examination.
If you have problems disposing of a seal carcass, seek advice
from the local office of the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency (SEPA).
Remember - you are not alone and are working as
part of a seal management team.
For further information please visit the following
websites:
Marine Scotland www.scotland.gov.uk/seallicensing
Scottish Strandings Scheme www.strandings.org
SEPA www.sepa.org.uk
6 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2
See Learning Outcome 1 of this Practice Unit for details of
Reporting & Recording Mechanisms & Procedures and
quarterly returns to Marine Scotland.
Public relations for seal management:
Candidates should be aware of the potential ethical issues that
may arise when involved in seal management activities. At all
times nominated marksmen must consider the potential
consequences of shooting a seal.
In order to maintain good public relations:
maintain close liaison with the local police
maintain close liaison with local representative of
Scottish Natural Heritage and local wildlife tourism
operators.
be aware of the aims of any local seal management
plan and be prepared to explain these.
explain the required action in polite and diplomatic
terms to interested members of the public.
when required, explain where further information can
be obtained by members of the public.
understanding of factors affecting public attitudes to
seal management in Scotland.
handle potential media enquires with sensitivity and in
a balanced way.
deal positively with challenges from members of the
public from an informed stance
Seal licencing is sometimes confused with seal culling and so
it is important to be able to explain the difference if asked to do
so:
Seal Culling: aims to reduce the overall seal population.
Seal Licencing: allows limited, local management of seal
predation in order to prevent serious damage to fisheries and
fish farms, or to protect the health and welfare of farmed fish.
7 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2
So, seal licencing seeks to achieve an appropriate
balance between seal conservation and sustainable
fisheries and aquaculture.
Marksmen are recommended to carry copies of Marine
Scotland’s Topic Sheets and their Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs) relevant to seal management so they can advise the
public how and where to get more information, if necessary.
These Topic Sheets and FAQs are all available from the
Marine Scotland Seal Licensing website:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Licensing/SealLicen
sing
Public relations are discussed more fully in Learning
Outcome 3 of the Seal Management: Theory Unit.
CONTACTS:
Enquiries about seal licensing can be directed to: Seal Licensing Marine Scotland Marine Laboratory PO Box 101 375, Victoria Road Aberdeen AB11 9DB Tel No:01224 295579 Enquiries about seal policy can be directed to: Ian Walker Marine Scotland Marine Planning and Policy Rm. 1A South Victoria Quay EDINBURGH EH6 6QQ Tel No: 0131 244 6568 E-mail: [email protected]
If the enquiries relate to specific issues they may be
redirected as appropriate.
8 Copyright ©NAFC Marine Centre 2011 Seal Management: Practice v2
References
a Northridge, S.P., Gordon, J.G., Booth, C., Calderan, S.,
Cargill, A., Coram, A., Gillespie, D. Lonergan, M. and
Webb, A. (2011). Assessment of the impacts and utility of
acoustic deterrent devices. Final Report to the Scottish
Aquaculture Research Forum, Project Code SARF044. 34pp
b Harris, R. (2007). Assessing grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
diet in western Scotland. MPhil Thesis. University of St
Andrews. 100pp.
c SCOS (2009). Scientific Advice on Matters Related to the
Management of Seal Populations: 2009. NERC Special
Committee on Seals. 100pp.
Further reading
The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 legislation. Available online
at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/5/pdfs/asp_20100005_
en.pdf Only Part 6 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (pages
64 – 71) is relevant to seal conservation and management.
The Scottish Seal Management Code of Practice. Available
online at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/295194/0107958.pd
f.
HSE Leaflet AS7(rev) ‘Guns’. Available online at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/as7.pdf
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