Seals part of Blaskets heritage and must be protected

The well-publicised deer cull in Killarney National Park could boost calls for similar action against grey seals which, fishermen claim, are now out of control because of population growth and are damaging livelihoods.

Fishermen, in Dingle, Co Kerry, say seals are following their boats and destroying fish in their nets. Over the years, there have been cases of illegal slaughter of seals, with around 60 being shot or bludgeoned to death near the Blasket Islands, in 2004, for example.