Committee advised gray seals threatening fisheries

“We need to do something now to bring the numbers down to historic levels,� said John Levy, president of the Fishermen & Scientists Research Society.

“It’s almost like an evasive species disrupting the whole ecosystem. There’s nothing to keep the numbers in balance.�

The Chester Basin fisherman told the committee he had his entire catch of fish destroyed and his gear damaged by seals when gillnet fishing last spring.

“I had to give it up,� said Levy. “I have never seen anything like his before. It’s happening all over Nova Scotia.�

Lobster fishermen are also being affected, said Levy. “As lobster fishermen, we see the seals following our boats. So much for conservation of the little lobsters.�

Fishermen aren’t the only ones having problems because of the ballooning gray seal herd, which has grown from approximately 50,000 animals in 1980 to an estimated 260,000 animals along the Scotian Shelf and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Seal parasites, practically non-existent 20 years ago, are infesting a growing number of commercial fish species.

“This has caused a significant competition problems for us,� said Digby processor Glenn Wadman. “Fish are infested to the point where there’s a 50 per cent reduction in throughput� at the plant, doubling production costs.

Cape Sable Island processor Peter Stoddard echoed the same con-cerns.

“The increased parasite infestation in cod is unequivocally the worst from our waters and we buy fish (for processing) from all over the world,� said Stoddard. “We need a seal hunt period.�

Stoddard said work is being done to develop markets for seal meat.

“There’s an existing market on our doorstep for 450 metric tonnes of seal meat. It’s all but a done deal.�

Although there is an existing gray seal quota of 10,400 animals, only 1,800 were harvested in 2006.

“If you’re not allowed where the product is you can’t harvest it,� said Cape Breton sealer Roger Courtney.

“We do have 117 licensed sealers in Nova Scotia and we can do a harvest but every time we try and do something we get blocked. It’s an industry. Let us manage it properly.�

Several presenters appeared before the committee, including Victor Wolfe, chairman of the Shelburne County Competitive Fishermen’s Association, Debbie MacKenzie, chairperson of the Grey Sea Conservation Society, and Mike Hammill, DFO research scientist.

Written submissions and photographs were also accepted, and can still be filed.

The standing committee, which is chaired by South Shore St Margaret’s MP Gerald Keddy, is tasked with conducting a study on the Canadian Seal Hunt.

Keddy said they expect to table a report and recommendations in the spring.