St. John’s; October 24, 2012: – The Canadian Sealers Association fully supports the recommendations of the Senate Standing Committee on Grey seals in the Southern Gulf. It sends a strong message to everyone that while a sustainable and economically viable sealing industry is a first preference, there is also the need to maintain a balanced eco-system and provision has to be made for the co-existence of seal herds with all other species in the marine environment.
Prior to 1983 Grey and Harbour seals were kept in check by similar measures such as bounty/culling, which were sponsored by the Federal Government and the herds were kept to acceptable levels. Since then, with the discontinuing of the bounty/culling program and the subsequent eroding of the seal market in general, the herd, both in the Southern Gulf and in Europe, has increased dramatically.
Frank Pinhorn, Director of the CSA