A Shetland fisherman has been jailed for 80 days for the slaughter of 21 seals.
James Stewart, 47, from Whalsay clubbed the seals to death last November, while on the remote island of East Linga. In February he admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals.
Stewart was sentenced on Wednesday at Lerwick Sheriff Court for breaching the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act.
Sheriff Graeme Napier said that he had to send out a clear message that society would not tolerate such behaviour.
The sheriff told Stewart: "I don't expect that you were brought up to believe that seals are surplus to requirements, but even if you were, no one can go and cause the unnecessary suffering that happened here.
"I have looked at various alternatives to custody, but particularly because of the seriousness of this offence and to discourage others, I consider there is no alternative to custody."
Stewart was seen by Scottish Natural Heritage staff on November 29 beating a seal over the head several times with a fence post before running off in an attempt to hide. Police visited the island the following day, where they found 21 seal corpses.
Defence agent Tommy Allan told the court that Stewart had believed the seals were suffering because they had been abandoned by their mothers, but now he realised that grey seals are left to fend for themselves at three weeks of age.
He said that his client had become a recluse since his arrest because the strength of feeling about what he had done both locally and nationally was so great.
"There is no particular reason for him to want to kill seals. They don't affect his business or his livelihood or personal beliefs or anything in any way. There is no agenda against seals," Mr Allan said.
"He accepts his responsibility and he is deeply sorry for the distress he has caused other people as a result of this, as well as what has happened to the seals."
