Interactions between grey seals & fisheries in Irish waters

Interactions between seals and fisheries in Ireland have long been a contentious issue, with frequent calls from the fishing industry for management. However, major data gaps exist, undermining management decisions. This study aims to address these data gaps, particularly pertaining to rates of seals by catch, and to provide tools for future management decisions. By comparing the at-sea foraging distribution of grey seals to the distribution of fishing effort, this study will quantify the spatial overlap of seal foraging and fisheries effort, and thus the potential for resource competition.