Three protected seals were culled in Kerry in recent years.
An investigation by Noteworthy, the investigations platform for The Journal, shows the state granted 11 licences in four years to commercial salmon farms to shoot seals off the west coast.
In 1914, grey seals became the world’s first protected species after they were almost hunted to population collapse.
Both common and grey seals are now protected under the EU Habitats Directive.
Salmon farming takes place in large pens in sheltered bays with deep waters along the west coast.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service granted 11 licences to salmon farms between 2015 and 2020 to cull normally protected seals by rifle.
Licences were sought and granted in the counties of Cork, Kerry, Galway, Mayo and Sligo, according to Noteworthy.
While the total number of seals killed isn’t known, two common seals and one grey seal were culled in Kerry during 2017 and 2018.
You can find The Journal story here.
