Project Status - Active
Start Year: 2011
End Year: 2013
Funding Body: Inland Fisheries Ireland

Geographic Area: Ireland
Local Study Area: Moy Estuary Co. Sligo; Slaney Estuary Co. Wexford

Project Co-Ordinator: Michelle Cronin
CMRC Contact: Michelle Cronin

Abstract

Inland Fisheries Ireland have funded a pilot study to determine the impact of seals on salmonids in two estuaries in which seal predation of adult salmon stocks has been problematic in Co. Sligo and Co. Mayo The research will build on existing programmes on-going in Ireland with regard to seal interactions with fisheries that CMRC are involved in e.g., Beaufort EAF project and a BIM study on seal depredation in inshore fishery.

CMRC, in conjunction with partners at UCC BEES and Marine Institute will determine the seasonal abundance of local seal species in the river mouth and estuaries of the river Moy and river Slaney, study the foraging behavior of seals in the study areas using telemetry and explore the diet of seals and seasonal levels of predation by seals on fish stocks, particularly Atlantic salmon in the two study areas. Management and mitigation options will also be explored.