Harbour seal population assessment in the Republic of Ireland August 2003
Cronin, M.; Duck, C.; Ó Cadhla, O.; Nairn, R.; Strong, D.; Keeffe, C. (2004). Harbour seal population assessment in the Republic of Ireland August 2003. Irish Wildlife Manuals, 11. National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Governement: Dublin. 39 pp.
Part of: Irish Wildlife Manuals. National Parks and Wildlife Service: Dublin. ISSN 1393-6670, more
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| Keywords |
Population abundance (in number)
Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]
ANE, Ireland [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top | Dataset |
- Cronin, M.
- Duck, C.
- Ó Cadhla, O.
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- Nairn, R.
- Strong, D.
- Keeffe, C.
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| Abstract |
The status of Ireland’s harbour seal population and its relationship with that of Britain and western Europe are poorly understood. The Republic of Ireland’s last minimum population estimate for harbour seals dates back to the period 1978-1984. Limited spatial coverage of recent research efforts and poor co-ordination of methods/results have fallen short of providing an accurate assessment of overall distribution and population size on regional or national scales. Following discussions between interested government and research parties, it was decided that the Republic of Ireland’s harbour seal population would be assessed by means of a geographically extensive survey conducted during the annual moult in August 2003. This research project would complement data gathered during a similar survey of Northern Ireland’s coastline in 2002.The primary objectives of the research were:1. To obtain an up-to-date harbour seal population estimate for the Republic of Ireland, as a whole, and for individual colonies or regions;2. To gather and update important information on current harbour seal distribution in Ireland.Detailed planning for a co-ordinated aerial and ground survey of the Republic of Ireland took place during the spring and early summer 2003. The survey took place in August 2003 and consisted of collaboration between Irish and UK-based parties. Using thermal imaging technology, aerial-counts of haul-out groups were compared with simultaneous data gathered by ground-based research personnel. |
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