I observed that on one of the small islands in Orkney I am visiting, geese stage in particular in the fall of the year. In this country and in the US they are hunted. Are they hunted in Orkney? Same as to seals. In this part of the world, the fishermen support the notion of a balanced seal population, which gives rise to an annual "harvest' which ends up with anti-fur folks interfering with the hunt. How do they control seals in Orkney? Are they harvested for their hides and oil? Thanks: Stephen

Hi Stephen! As a regular visitor to the Islands I'm happy to say that they (try to) keep them as a tourist attraction and don't "harvest" them. (Despite some bustards who shoot with no regard pubs and/or breading mothers and who may be called before the procurator fiscal). I don't agree with all the attitudes of the "anti-fur folks", as you call them, but as far as the oil is concerned: Some Inuit may need it, some Faeroese may want it - and they may harvest seals (in accordance with all the major environment associations); but "we" neither in Europe nor in Canada "need" it ... so there ist no reason for harvesting them for oil. ... and as far as the fishermen are concerned: If a single seal or any seal population in any region will be a risk for a single fisherman or a fishing community within that said region, it is nothing else but one of our home-baked problems on planet Earth: We - the human folks - and not they - the selkies - have taken to much fish from the waters ... :-) cu Wolfgang