Welcome to the Seal Tagging Project
Irish researchers from UCC, working with world leading experts in marine mammal research from the Sea Mammal Research Unit in Scotland are using sophisticated tags to study Harbour and Grey seals offshore movements and behaviour. The tags use a novel telemetry system (fast acquisition GPS) together with mobile phone technology to relay the information back to a base phone.
How to tag
We use specially designed nets that we deploy at speed from a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) around a haul-out site (where seals come ashore) to capture harbour seals. The seals enter the water and occasionally one gets caught in the net. The seal is removed immediately to reduce unnecessary stress ...
Harbour Seal Project
The behaviour of harbour seals at sea off southwest Ireland was studied over a two year period in 2006-2008. The project was funded by the Marine Institute under the National Development Plan and provided for the first time ever information on the movements and behaviour of seals in Irish waters. Irish ...
Grey Seal Project
An exciting study on grey seals at sea off the west coast of Ireland is currently underway. The project funded by the Higher Education Authority and National Parks & Wildlife Service will provide for the first time ever information on the movements and behaviour of grey seals in Irish waters. ...
About Seals
Pinnipeds are highly modified carnivorous mammals, which have adopted an aquatic life and form a similar group of about 33 species from three families, true seals (Phocidae), eared seals (Otariidae) and the walrus (Odobenidae). Seals body shape and limbs are modified for their aquatic habitat, the streamline shape offers minimum ...
