Vol. 482 No. 2
13 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals, if any, she has to carry out a controlled seal cull on the west coast; if her attention has been drawn to the wholesale concern among small fishing interests at the scale of fish destroyed in nets by seals; the examinations, if any, she has made in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17352/97]
Seals are a protected species under the Wildlife Act, 1976, and it is an offence to hunt or kill them, except under a licence or permission granted by me under the Act. No official seal cull has been carried out since the Wildlife Act, 1976, came into force and I have no proposals to carry out a controlled seal cull on the west coast.
I am aware of the impact which seals can have on the catch and nets of fishermen. Section 42 of the Wildlife Act provides, inter alia, that where damage is being caused by a protected wild animal (in this case, seals) to a fishery, the Minister may cause to be taken, by a person authorised by her, such steps, including the killing of protected wild animals, to stop the damage. Permissions issued under section 42 of the Act provide for the shooting of seals within 100 metres of the nets which are subject to damage. Permits are issued in response to specific applications and each application is considered on its merits.
A study is currently under way on the distribution and migration patterns of seals in Irish waters. This project, which is jointly funded by my Department, the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and BIM, will provide data on seal populations. The study, which is due for completion in 1998, will enable us to assess and quantify more accurately seal populations in Irish waters and their possible impact on fish stocks.
