THE IRISH SEAL Sanctuary is calling for an immediate investigation into the deaths of eight seals found dead on beaches in Waterford and Wexford in the past week.
Four seals, two fresh and two decomposed, were found dead in Fethard-on-Sea in Wexford. Two more were found on an adjoining beach to Fethard-on-Sea. One was found in the area of Dunmore East in Wexford and a large bull was found decapitated in Tramore.
Although the ISS are unsure of what exactly happened to the seals they say it is “very unusual” for a cluster to be found dead in such a confined area.
Brendan Price, Chairperson of the ISS told TheJournal.ie that “harsh conditions or entanglement” could have played a part in their deaths or it could have been something in the environment and said “that’s why this needs to be investigated because it might affect us all”.
Johnny Woodlock of the ISS added they are “not pointing any fingers at anyone” or saying “foul play” was involved , but fishermen have been calling for a seal cull for some time.
The deaths come after four seals were found in February with wounds consistent with gunshots on a beach in Tramore and in June, workers were shocked when they discovered two seals’ heads had been nailed to plywood at the Kerry sanctuary.
Price is hoping for an investigation but says one might not be carried out because the The National Parks and Wildlife Service are very under resourced at the moment:
The NPWS are the ones who would investigate, but that are very under resourced at the moment as their budget was cut by 40 per cent and their staff have been cut by 20 per cent.But we really do need an investigation because all seals are protected under national and EU law.
The ISS are also calling on anyone who comes across a dead seal on a beach to contact them.
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