2007
SEAL MANAGEMENT MEASURES
2007 Atlantic Seal Hunt (March 2007)
- Starting this year, fleets that overrun their annual
quota will see their allocations reduced by the same number
of seals in their overrun on a one for one basis the following
year. This measure aims to minimize the impact of overruns
on the seal population in any given year by ensuring that
it is balanced out by a reduction in quota the following
year.
- A number of additional measures in 2007 also aim to
decrease the possibility of quota overruns. These include:
shorter and more controlled opening periods (possibly
half-days for some fleets); coordinated regional management
and monitoring plans; monitoring at dockside; mandatory
hail-outs on departure for some fleets; and daily hails
of catches for all sealing vessels, among other measures.
- In order to provide stability in access and reduce the
competitive nature of the hunt, DFO will appoint an independent
reviewer to reassess regional shares in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence in the hope of finding a lasting solution. In
the interim, the existing sharing arrangement will remain
in place for the 2007 hunt.
- A carry forward option, which will be reviewed annually,
means fleets can carry forward into the next season up
to 10 percent of their allocation if not fully utilized,
provided there are no compelling conservation concerns.
Conservation and Sustainable Management
- The Government of Canada is committed to taking a precautionary
management approach. Quotas are set at levels that ensure
the health and abundance of seal herds.
- The Government of Canada makes every effort to ensure
the seal hunt is conducted in a safe and humane manner.
The seal hunt is closely monitored and tightly regulated.
- A report published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal
in September, 2002 concluded that virtually all seals
are taken in an acceptably humane manner.
- Many factors, such as ice conditions, pup mortality,
natural mortality, incidental catch, reproductive rates,
the Greenland and Arctic hunts and commercial harvest
levels are considered when setting quotas for the harp
seal hunt.
- The precautionary management system used to manage harp
seals has the management objective to keep the population
at a healthy level (above 4.07 million). Should the population
size diminish below that level, actions will be taken
to bring it back to above 4.07.
- DFO is currently planning an international workshop
to examine the effects of harp and grey seal predation
on fish populations. Ice Conditions and the harp seal
population
- The Atlantic harp seal population is plentiful; nearly
triple what it was in the 1970s. The current estimate
of harp seals is approximately 5.5 million animals.
- In the past DFO has managed the harvest on the basis
of a single population, with an allocation split of roughly
70-30. This represents roughly the proportion of pupping
at the Front (about 70%) and in the Gulf (about 30%).
- Only a small component of the entire harp seal herd
is impacted by the declining ice conditions in the Southern
Gulf this year. Ice conditions remain good in the Northern
Gulf and on the Front.
- To better assess the impact of ice conditions, reproductive
rates and other factors on the harp seal population, the
next harp seal population survey is being moved up one
year to 2008. DFO science will be better able to assess
the impact of ice conditions, reproductive rates and other
factors on the harp seal population.
Harp
Seals:
- There are three populations of this abundant
species, of which the Northwest Atlantic stock off Canada
is the largest.
- The Atlantic harp seal population is healthy
and plentiful; nearly triple what it was in the 1970s.
Based on a 2004 survey, the estimated total population
size is now 5.82 million seals.
Hooded
Seals:
- Hooded seals are the second most important commercial
seal species in Atlantic Canada. There are two
stocks of hooded seal: one in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
and the other off the northeast coast of Newfoundland.
The Gulf of St. Lawrence herd is very small and no hunting
of this stock is permitted.
- A 1990 survey estimated a population of approximately
440,000 animals. A new survey was conducted in
2005 and results are expected later in 2006.Grey Seals:
- There are two grey seal herds, with the main
breeding grounds being in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence
and on Sable Island. There is no hunting permitted
in Sable Island
- In 2004, the grey seal population was estimated
to be about 250,000 animals.
HUMANE
HARVESTING
-
The Government of Canada makes every effort to ensure
the seal hunt is conducted in a safe and humane manner.
The seal hunt is closely monitored and tightly regulated.
- Seal hunting methods have been studied and approved
by the Royal Commission on Seals and Sealing. The Commission
found that the methods used in hunting seals compare favourably
to those used to hunt any other wild or domesticated animal.
- An independent veterinarians' report published
in 2002 in the Canadian Veterinary Journal found that
the large majority of seals taken during the hunt (98%)
are killed in an acceptably humane manner.
- An Independent Veterinarians' Working Group (IVWG)
on the Canadian Harp Seal Hunt was formed in 2005 to review
the Canadian seal hunt and contribute to the promotion
of animal welfare. The working group made recommendations
based on improving the humaneness of the hunt and DFO
is working towards adopting these recommendations through
further consultation with the IVWG and with industry.
This would require amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations.
- Before sealers can qualify for a professional
licence, they must obtain an assistant sealing licence
and work under the supervision of a professional sealer
for two years. DFO works closely with the sealing industry
to help develop and provide information sessions on methods
of hunting, handling and processing to ensure high standards
for Canadian seal products.
- Regulations stipulate that sealers can only dispatch
seals in a manner designed to do so quickly. Seals
may only be killed by the use of high-powered rifles,
shotguns firing slugs, clubs and hakapiks. Further
requirements pertaining to the size, weight, muzzle velocity
and gauge of weapon are specified in the regulations.
-
Seals are a valuable natural resource that, when harvested
sustainably, provides valuable income to many Canadian
sealers and their families. In 2005, The average
price per pelt received by sealers was approximately $52,
an 18% increase over the 2004 average
value.
- The 2005 seal hunt was one of the most
profitable in memory. Given extremely favourable
market conditions, the landed value of the harp seal hunt
exceeded $16.5 million. In Newfoundland,
harp seals ranked 5th in total landed value among all
species harvested in 2004, after snow crab, shrimp, lobster,
and cod.
- Some sealers have stated that their income from
sealing can represent from 25-35 per cent of their
total annual income. The top homeports
for sealers have unemployment rates that are in excess
of 30 per cent higher than the national average.
- Estimates from DFO and the province of Newfoundland
find that between 5,000 and 6,000 individuals
derive some income from sealing. This is
approximately 1% of the total provincial population, and
2% of the labour force. This is, in fact, a substantial
number of individuals.
- All seal pelts undergo some processing
within Canada, creating employment opportunities in plants.
Pre-tanning procedures may include soaking, drying and
shaving. Between six and eight facilities have participated
in seal processing in recent years, four of which are
in Newfoundland and the remainder in Quebec.
- Seal oil, once extracted, is marketed in capsule
form, which is rich in Omega-3 acids. The fatty
acids are known to be helpful in preventing and treating
hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and many other health
problems.
- The Government of Canada encourages the fullest
possible commercial use of seals with the emphasis on
leather, oil, handicrafts, and in recent years, meat for
human and animal consumption.
-
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fishery Officers monitor
the seal hunt in numerous ways to ensure sealers comply
with Canada's Marine Mammal Regulations. They conduct
surveillance of the hunt by means of aerial patrols,
vessel patrols, dockside inspections of vessels at landing
sites and inspections at buying and processing facilities.
- In 2005, DFO Fishery Officers spent approximately
12,600 hours monitoring and enforcing the hunt. In the
last five years, 144 charges were laid and convictions
were upheld in 66 of those cases.
- For the 2006 seal hunt, in the southern Gulf
of St. Lawrence, 11 DFO Fishery Officers are available
for assignment. These officers will be augmented
as necessary with support from RCMP officers, for a
total enforcement presence of 22 officers. This ensures
a very high ratio of enforcement capability per active
sealing vessel; approximately double the capability
of other fisheries in the area.
- In the Newfoundland and Labrador region (the
"Front") DFO has approximately 117 officers
to draw from. Throughout the sealing season, most
of these officers are likely to have involvement in
some aspect of the seal hunt. Obviously those
posted in detachments with active seal fisheries will
be more likely to be involved in a greater extent than
those in detachments removed from active sealing areas.
- The peak hunt occurs after the whelping period
in early April. During this period, DFO will send additional
Fishery Officers to sea on ice breakers in the area
of the hunt and increase aerial surveillance, observer
deployment and dockside checks. DFO Fishery Officers
can be quickly deployed to high activity areas if the
need arises.
- At-sea observers are randomly deployed to sealing
vessels to verify landings data, monitor the hunt and
report violations, and ensure no whitecoats or bluebacks
are hunted, and that hunting does not take place in
whelping patches. In-port inspections are also
conducted by dockside monitors on a regular basis to
validate landings data and ensure quota compliance.
Objective-Based
Fisheries Management:
In
2003, DFO adopted an Objectives-Based Fisheries Management
(OBFM) approach. OBFM uses reference points
and control rules to establish management measures
for a fishery.
- Reference points are pre-established population
levels that trigger specific management actions when
they are reached. Control rules are specific,
pre-established actions that are triggered at certain
reference points. Control rules include measures
such as lower TACs, changes to season length and area
closures. Reference points are set at 70%, 50%
and 30%, of the maximum observed size of the herd
(5.82 million).
- The Precautionary Approach is an approach
that attempts to define management objectives, establishes
limits for conservation and identifies specific management
actions if these limits are reached. A key component
is that reference points and specific management actions
are established to aid decision makers in managing
the resource.
Also...
Greenland
Harvest:
Harp
and hooded seals from the Northwest Atlantic herd are
also hunted in Greenland. Greenland’s annual harvest
levels are in the order of 90,000 to 110,000 harp seals
and 7,500 hooded seals.
Canada
and Greenland do not have a shared management regime
for seals, but the two countries meet regularly to
share information updates on the nature and level
of hunting that takes place in both countries.
Studies
of predation by seals on fish in Atlantic Canada have
focused on harp seals and grey seals. Predation of harbour
and hooded seals has also been estimated. Harp seals
accounted for the largest amount of consumption, followed
by hooded and grey seals. However, recent data on diets
of hooded seals suggest that they may also be important
fish predators.
There
are several factors contributing to the lack of recovery
of Atlantic cod stocks such as fishing, the poor physical
condition of the fish, poor growth, unfavourable ocean
condition and low stock productivity at current levels.
It
is widely accepted in the scientific community that
there are many uncertainties in the estimates of the
amount of fish consumed by seals. Seals and cod exist
in a complex ecosystem, which mitigates against easy
analysis or simple solutions to problems such as the
lack of recovery of cod stocks.
Comprehensive
estimates indicated that in 1996, harp seals consumed
some 3 million tonnes of food in the Canadian Atlantic,
whereas grey seals consumed some 314,000 tonnes. A high
portion of the diet of both species was fish, with some
invertebrate prey as well. The vast majority of fish
prey were small forage fish.
The
four major species of fish consumed annually by harp
seals are:
Seals
and sealing have its own terms and a fairly long-term
and comprehensive list of references. Suggested readings
as noted below could prove very helpful in gaining a better
understanding of the sealing industry. However, it would
be very helpful to understand sealing terms as used in
most literature and discussion pertaining to the industry.
The terms noted below are common in most literature and
widely used in most Department of Fisheries and Oceans
material.
Beater
-- a fully moulted harp seal pup from 3¸ weeks - 1 year
old.
Bedlamer -- an immature harp seal from 1 - 5 years old.
Blueback -- a hooded seal pup up to 1 year old which has
not moulted its blue coat.
Front -- an area of open water and ice along the northeast
coast of Newfoundland, the east coast of Labrador and
the Strait of Bell Isle, where the largest concentration
of harp seal whelping and breeding takes place.
Gulf -- the Gulf of St. Lawrence, principally around the
Magdalen Islands, where a population of harp seals gather
to whelp and breed.
Harp Seal -- a hair seal known by the Latin name Phoca
groenlandica.
Hood Seal -- a hair seal known by the Latin name Cystophora
cristata.
Landsmen -- fishermen who go sealing on foot or from boats
of less that 65ft. in length.
Further Reading: Comeau, P.A. 1989 Sealing - A Canadian
Perspective. Dept. of Fisheries & Oceans. Ottawa, Canada.
Malouf,
A. 1986 Seals and Sealing in Canada. Report of the Royal
Commission. Ottawa, Canada.
Mansfield,
A.W. Seals of Arctic and Eastern Canada. Fisheries Research
Board of 1967 Canada; Bulletin #137. Ottawa, Canada.
Roff,
D.A. and Population Dynamics and Management of the Northwest
Atlantic Bowen, W.D. 1983 Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandica).
Can. Fish. Aquat. Sci.40:919-932.
Stenson,
G.B. et.al. Pup production of Harp Seals, Phoca groenlandica,
in the 1994 Northwest Atlantic during 1994.
Top of page
Objective-Based
Fisheries Management:
Fisheries
and Oceans Canada is adopting an Objective-Based Fisheries
Management (OBFM) approach for harp seals. OBFM uses
control rules and reference points to establish management
measures for a fishery. Where there is an abundant resource,
OBFM will facilitate a market-driven harvest that will
enable sealers to maximize their benefits without compromising
conservation.
Reference
points are pre-established population levels that
trigger specific management actions when they are reached.
Reference points have been set at 70%, 50% and 30% of
5.5 million, the maximum observed size of the harp seal
herd.
Top of page
Control
rules are specific, pre-established actions that
are triggered at certain reference points. Control rules
included measures such as lower Total Allowable Catch
(TAC), changes to season length and area closures.
If
market conditions result in the full TAC being taken
for the three-year plan, it is estimated the population
would decline to about 4.7 million by 2006 – well
above the 70% reference threshold. The department is
committed to maintaining the harp seal population above
the 70% reference point.
Scientific
Initiatives:
The
most recent harp seal population estimate, based on
an extensive survey conducted in 1999, places the population
at around 5.2 million seals. This indicates that the
harp seal population has remained steady at this level
since 1996. In the early 1970’s, the harp seal
population was just under two million.
Fisheries
and Oceans Canada will continue to conduct important
scientific initiatives related to increasing the understanding
of abundance, distribution and potential impact of seals
on fish stocks.
Several
stakeholders have requested the department consider
seal exclusion zones as one method to protect aggregations
of spawning and juvenile cod from seal predation in
specific areas. The department is committed to evaluating
the feasibility and value of these zones as well as
identifying suitable locations and methods of control.
Harvesting
of Young Seals, Especially Whitecoats, Bluebacks:
The
hunting of harp seal pups (whitecoats)
and hooded seal pups (bluebacks) is
prohibited.
Adult
harp and hooded seals cannot be harvested when they
are in whelping patches or breeding grounds.
Seals
mature very quickly. The seals that are hunted are independent
animals. Once they have been weaned by their mothers,
approximately two or three weeks after birth, they are
self-reliant and left to fend for themselves.
