The Society was originally set up as a non-profit charitable organisation in Scotland, in the spring of 1996 with the aim of protecting and conserving pinnipeds worldwide. The Society has been almost dormant since 2002 and we are reestablishing it in 2010 and will be applying for charitable status again in the UK.
The primary aims of the Society remain to protect and conserve pinnipeds worldwide by:
- Monitoring and attempting to minimise threats to pinniped populations
- Providing an information and advisory service on pinniped-related issues
- Maintaining close links with groups concerned with pinniped welfare, conservation, rescue, rehabilitation and research
- Communicating with goverments in relation with seal protection and conservation issues
- Encouranging developing educational material related to pinnipeds, their nature and threats that they face
Among the specific topics of interest to the Society are:
- International and national law related to seal protection and conservation
- Hunting and exploitation of pinniped populations
- Culling and control in connections with fisheries and fish farms
- Entanglement in fishing gear
- Rescue and rehabilitation
- Marine protected areas
- Anthropogenic impact on seal habitat
- Potential impact of climate change
- Pinnipeds in captivity