Vol. 515 No. 5
11 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will make a statement on the number of migratory seals from Scotland to the north Mayo coast; the representations, if any, she has received regarding carrying out a controlled seal cull; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6426/00]
Seals are a protected species under the Wildlife Act, 1976, and it is an offence to hunt or kill them, save under a licence or permission granted by me as Minister under the Act. No official seal cull has been carried out since the Wildlife Act, 1976, came in to force and I have no proposals to carry out a seal cull. The scientific advice available is that culling is not an effective method of control. Large numbers of seals migrate from Scotland to the west coast of Ireland but I have no definitive figures in relation to the numbers migrating to the north Mayo coast.
From time to time representations are received in relation to the control of seal populations, usually arising from the problems caused to fishing interests by seal damage to fish caught in nets. 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 auth orised by her, such steps, as are necessary 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.
When I raised this question a number of years ago the Department produced evidence that several thousand seals migrated from the west coast of Scotland to the north Mayo coast on an annual basis. While no official seal culls have been carried out, a number of unofficial culls have been carried out. This is a cause of great controversy at certain times.
If experienced fishermen see rogue seals constantly obtaining easy food by raiding salmon drift nets, are they entitled to apply to the Department to have such seals killed? I have been on a number of fishing boats and I have seen fishermen trying to patrol their nets. If a salmon is caught in a legal drift net, they must act quickly to obtain it before a seal does so.
The Deputy's knowledge of this matter is far greater than mine. I am distressed by his statement that unofficial seal culls are taking place. If he has information about such activity he should forward it to the Department because seals are protected wild animals.
Certain fishermen carry shotguns for the purpose of killing rogue seals.
That sort of anecdotal information is not very useful. However, if he has more concrete evidence I would be interested in hearing it.
In respect of the Minister of the day's responsibility in this area under section 42 of the Act, as already stated, each case is considered on its merits. It is interesting to note the number of applications made and the number of permits granted. Five permits were granted in 1992, six were granted in 1993, eight were granted in 1994, eight were granted in 1995, eight were granted in 1996, 15 were granted in 1997, seven were granted in 1998 and ten were granted in 1999. No permits have been granted as yet this year and there are two outstanding applications in respect of which decisions remain to be made.
As stated earlier, the situation must be monitored carefully because seals are a protected species under the Wildlife Act, 1976. It is not just a question of a Minister making decisions lightly, each case must be taken on its merits.
We might return to this issue when we come to deal with the Wildlife Bill.
I look forward to that.
That concludes Question Time for today.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
