Vol. 486 No. 5
10 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will issue any licence for the purpose of carrying out a seal cull in 1998; the progress, if any, on determining numbers of migrating seals off the west coast; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2805/98]
My Department has no plans to engage in or sanction an official cull of seals as the scientific advice is that culling is not an effective method of preventing predation of fisheries by seals. However, affected persons may apply for permissions under section 42 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, to inter alia kill seals which are causing damage to a fishery and these will receive early consideration.
University College Cork is undertaking a three year study on the comparative distribution and migration patterns of grey and common seals. This project is being jointly funded by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and my Department. This study is due for completion later this year and it is hoped it will be possible to quantify and assess more accurately seal populations and their impact on fish stocks around the Irish coast.
