Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I assume the Minister is equally aware of the difficulties regarding special predators and the consequent effect of diminishing fish stocks on the income of inshore fishermen, in particular those who have been struggling for a considerable time to try to make a living. I tabled this Topical Issue, following several meetings I have had with various fishing organisations and communities along the south and the west coast. I imagine this problem affects every part of Ireland's coast and that people are having similar experiences.

The argument being made is that the growing population of seals is responsible for a great deal of the damage that has been done to our fishing stocks.

One person I met had been fishing that morning with gillnet and got ten boxes of cod. I have a picture showing how three of them were absolutely destroyed by seals, and I can give the Minister a copy afterwards. That is practically a third of his catch for that day gone. Fishermen have difficulties trying to make ends meet before facing up to that. Others are drift netting and have the same experience. I have also met people involved with angling. I did not realise that, in particular, along the coastal areas and mouths of rivers, salmon breeding areas are being attacked by seals. That is their argument and people want to see what can be done.

I have been told a study has been carried out by the French Government and its findings have been accepted and supported by the European Union, EU, and it concerns the damage being done by seals to fish stocks. There is a lobby within the group seeking some kind of cull system to deal with the matter. The Minister might be able to enlighten the House about that. The body with the appropriate remit - I assume it is the National Parks and Wildlife Service - should carry out a survey on this to determine what can be done. In many parts of the country there is overpopulation of deer etc. and culling is put in place for various reasons. There is a strong argument that there should be a cull of the seal population in order to protect fish stocks and ensure people can get their just rewards.

It is not acceptable for somebody to haul the nets after 48 hours to find a third of the catch gone. There is a responsibility on us to act. It may not be politically palatable, and certain members of the public may find difficulty with this. Some mechanism should be formulated on the back of evidence supplied to us and this House by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Will the Minister confirm that the French Government has carried out a survey whose findings have been accepted by the EU in this regard. It is my understanding that this is the case.

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