21 December 2012: The Irish Seal Sanctuary is concerned over a cluster of seal deaths reported in Co. Wexford and Waterford over the past few days. Eight seals were found dead in total – six near Fethard-on-Sea, one in Tramore and one near Dunmore East.
All seals are protected under national and European law and the Irish Seal sanctuary is trying to establish how these eight seals died. The seal found at Tramore is reported to have been decapitated.
The Irish Seal Sanctuary is urging the National Parks and Wildlife Service to conduct as thorough an investigation as possible into the seal deaths.
‘The local man who reported the deaths at Fethard-on-Sea said has has never seen so many dead seals at once,’ said Johnny Woodlock, spokesperson for the Irish Seal Sanctuary.
Mr Woodlock is appealing to the public to report any observed seal deaths to the Irish Seal Sanctuary. The organisation has established a database of seal deaths and is appealing to the public to report any dead or injured seals found washed ashore. These reports will all be added to their database and the information will be shared with the Marine Institute and the fishing industry.
‘The events this week have really highlighted the importance of recording public observations,’ said Mr Woodlock. ‘Patterns only emerge with records.’
Please contact the Irish Seal Sanctury through their website (www.irishsealsanctuary.ie) or send an email with any photos to jwoodlock@eircom.net
