Calls for seal census as cull may be required

THE National Salmon Commission yesterday called for a census of the seal population and said a cull may be necessary.

“Seals do destroy fish stocks, and salmon in particular. There should be a proper census done and if it finds there are too many seals, there should be a proper cull taking place,” said Salmon Commission chairman Joey Murrin yesterday on RTÉ radio.

More than 40 grey seals were found killed on Beginish Island last week and post mortems on three of the seals revealed that one had been shot, another had been bludgeoned and the third had had an instrument driven through one of its eyes.