Seals and fisheries coexisting sustainably
Interactions between seals and the fishing industry occur globally, with depredation – the full or part removal of fish from nets by seals, leading to significant conflict. Fishers suffer economic losses due to loss of catch, gear damage and time spent disentangling damaged fish/by-caught seals, while ecological impacts can include seal mortality (by-catch and/or authorised/illegal killing), alongside changes in animal behaviour (e.g. seals may become reliant on artificial food sources). In recent years, conflicts have escalated substantially, and an effective and pragmatic solution to the issue is urgently required.  Using an area of high seal-fishery conflict across south-west Ireland as a case study, SEAFICS combines stakeholder engagement, method development, the application of emerging technologies, and advanced statistical analyses, to assess interactions between seals and fisheries, and minimise conflicts through the development of effective mitigation. This will be achieved by addressing 4 research objectives: (1) the assessment of the perceived extent and impact of seal depredation via interviews and survey questionnaires with fishers, (2) the quantification of depredation at fishing nets through the development and application of a novel method that uses accelerometers to detect sub-surface hidden depredation events (which in past assessments have been unaccounted for), (3) the mitigation of seal depredation by applying newly developed targeted acoustic deterrent technology and assessing its effectiveness, and (4) the assessment of fisher views on the mitigation system and its practical use. During the implementation of SEAFICS, a tailored training program will develop & strengthen the applying researcher’s expertise & skills, such that future independence and career prospects in applied research are enhanced. The innovative and timely research of SEAFICS will address pressing socio-economic & conservation issues both across Europe and globally.