Put people before seals -Gallagher
7 May 1997
An MEP has stated that he puts fishermen before the seals.
Mr. Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher said if seal colonies continued to ravage fish stocks action would have to be taken to control their numbers.
He said: "It is not popular to be critical of seals whether it be environmentalists or Greenpeace or animal lovers and I certainly am not anxious that we should cull seals but I feel if they continue to affect our salmon industry we will have to look very seriously at this.
"I have raised this in the European Parliament on a number of occasions and we are getting very little support."
Mr. Gallagher added: "There seems to be members both in Ireland and in Europe that are more interested in protecting seals than they are in providing an income for small fishermen in the West of Ireland who are trying to suppliment their incomes, maybe from unemployment assistance or their income from farming.
"So while it is not popular, I certainly put people before seals."
