Salmon farm pair face trial on charges of unlawful killing of seals

Two men are facing trial at Lerwick Sheriff Court after being accused of using nets to unlawfully kill seals.

Graham McNally, 51, of Sandveien, and Ross Morrison, 40, of Union Cottages, both Lerwick, deny amended charges of using nets in the course of their employment as salmon farm managers to take or kill grey or common seals, contrary to the European habitats directive.

The offence is alleged to have happened between 1st August 2009 and 1st August 2011 at the Meridian Salmon Cloudin site in Vaila Sound and at the company’s Hoganess site.
A trial date has been set for 15th November, with an intermediate diet due on 17th October.

The two men, who have been ordained to appear, were suspended from their work after the case came to light while Meridian Salmon carried out its own internal investigation.