(1)The Scottish Ministers must consult the Natural Environment Research Council before granting or varying a seal licence.
(2)The Scottish Ministers must obtain the consent of Scottish Natural Heritage before granting or varying a seal licence authorising the killing or taking of seals in a protected area for a purpose mentioned in any of paragraphs (b) to (e) of section 110(1).
“protected area” means—
a Nature Conservation MPA,
a Demonstration and Research MPA,
a Historic MPA,
a site of special scientific interest,
an area in respect of which a nature conservation order or land management order made under Part 2 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6) has effect,
a nature reserve (within the meaning of Part 3 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (c.97)), or
a European site (within the meaning of regulation 10 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations).