DFO to organize workshops to address grey seal impact

By Carla Allen

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will be holding a series of workshops in 2008 as part of their ongoing seal management program.

The workshops will involve scientists and industry representatives to address the impacts that the growing seal populations are having on the fishing industry.

The Municipality of Barrington in southwestern Nova Scotia was informed of the workshops after sending DFO some of the responses they had received to date from other municipalities. MoB is continuing to receive support for a more significant seal harvest to lower the population to a healthier level.

In its response to MoB, DFO stated that it is aware of the concerns of the fishing and processing industry with regard to the growing seal population.

It is continuing to encourage the development of markets for grey seal products and in 2004 issued a quota of 10,000 grey seals to be taken over two years.

The present annual allocation is 10,700, which can be taken in the waters of the Atlantic (Nova Scotia) and in the Gulf of St. Larence.

“DFO (also) annually issues over 400 seal licenses to commercial fish harvesters, permitting them to kill grey seals they deem to be negatively impacting their fishing operations,” wrote Loyola Hearn, minister of DFO.