Eighty grey seals have been shot in the last six months under a new licensing scheme to protect fish farms.

The Seal Licensing System was introduced in January to control seal numbers around fish farms and wild fisheries while protecting the species elsewhere.

Anyone caught killing or injuring a seal without a licence faces a penalty of up to six months in prison or a heavy fine.

The Scottish Government said killing seals should be a last resort and it was working with the fish farming industry to develop non-lethal deterrents.

The licensing system allows a maximum of 1298 seals to be shot in a year.

Research by the Special Committee on Seals (SCOS) has revealed an increase in grey seal pup numbers, with the total population at 108,000.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "As a government, we're determined to strike the right balance between seal conservation and supporting the fisheries and aquaculture industries.

"Under the Marine Act 2010, for the first time it is illegal to shoot a seal unless a licence has been granted under very strict conditions.

"Before these measures were introduced, environmentalists estimate that at least 2000 seals were shot in Scotland every year - therefore a first quarter figure of just 80 seals signals a remarkable drop."