Advice regarding an alternative bleeding method for harvesting young grey seals (Halichoerus grypus)

Abstract

The Marine Mammal Regulations (MMR) mandate a three-step process when killing seals for personal or commercial purposes to comply with high standards of animal welfare. The aim of the final “bleeding step” (described in the MMR as bleeding the animal by severing the axillary arteries) is undertaken to ensure that the animal is dead before the carcass is further processed by the harvester. The time required to bleed young grey seals by severing either the axillary arteries and surrounding blood vessels or the common carotid arteries and surrounding blood vessels were compared. Results indicate that severance of the common carotid arteries and surrounding blood vessels located in the ventral part of the neck is as rapid and efficient as severing the axillary arteries and surrounding blood vessels for bleeding young grey seals and would thus be adequate to ensure death from an animal welfare perspective. Bleeding time with both methods was unaffected by the body weight of the young grey seals and was similar for males and females. Comparing bleeding time from severance of axillary arteries between young harp seals and grey seals, bleeding time was overall 60% longer in grey seals than harp seals. This is likely a result of a larger body mass and blood volume in grey seals, and differences in hunting techniques between these two species.