A large team of gardaí and wildlife officers yesterday visited Beginish Island, one of the Blasket Islands off west Kerry where over 40 grey seals and their pups were found dead last week.
The seals were mostly shot, gardaí believe. Initial claims of disembowelling and sadistic-type slaughter have been strongly denied.
The investigators combed the scene on the foreshore in an effort to find evidence that might lead them to the perpetrators, Sgt Mossie O'Donnell of Dingle Garda station said.
Most of the shootings are believed to have occurred on Monday of last week and fishermen and others who may have been in the vicinity of the Blaskets that day and who may have seen something were asked to come forward.
As nobody lives on the Blaskets, and as the island is some way from the mainland, it may be difficult to find witnesses to the slaying of the seals, investigators said.
A small number of fishermen are suspected of the killings. Seals are known to interfere with nets and also to eat into scarce salmon stocks. The fishermen have called for culls for a number of years.
Sgt O'Donnell said a thorough investigation was continuing. He also said the fishing community in general, who were honest and hard working, did not condone the killing of the seals.
It is an offence to hunt and kill seals under the Wildlife Act, 1976.
Dúchas regional manager Paddy O'Sullivan said they were helping gardaí to trace the perpetrators and urged people with any information to telephone Dúchas in Killarney on 064 31440.