Seal depredation in Irish set net fisheries
(gill, tangle and trammel nets) targeting hake, pollack, crawfish, monkfish and
various flatfish, is thought to be increasing. Anecdotal reports by industry
suggest depredation rates of up to 30%. However, there are no current
quantitative estimates of catch losses.
Funded under the BIM Marine Environmental
Measure, project partners BIM, CMRC and MI commenced a one year pilot-scale
assessment of seal depredation in Irish waters in summer 2011