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January 14, 1999
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)


Minister, fishermen alarmed over historically high numbers of grey seals congregating in Newfoundland waters

John Efford, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, has been receiving telephone calls from fishermen in Placentia Bay who are alarmed over the numbers of grey seals being sighted in waters off the South Coast of Newfoundland.

Minister Efford said: "Fishermen in Placentia have been reporting to me that there are vast numbers of grey seals congregating in their area for the first time ever. What appears to be happening is that grey seals, which are increasingly abundant off Nova Scotia, are now moving to the rich feeding grounds along the south coast and Placentia Bay. A similar occurance also took place in 1997 when a herd of approximately 2,000 grey seals established a new seasonal rookery on Bell Isle at the northern entrance at the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

"According to Patrick Barry of St. Bride's, numerous herds of up to 70 to 80 grey seals each have been sighted in Placentia Bay and are causing concern among fishermen. He told me that he had never seen the greys in such numbers in that area before.

"I can only hope that the voice of the fishermen in our province will be listened to by the federal government unlike when alarm was first expressed by our fishermen over the burgeoning harp seal population and the negative impact that the harp seal herd was having on the recovery of our groundfish stocks.

"Last year it was estimated that more than one million harp seals entered Placentia Bay. How long will our fishery last when our only lucrative fishing grounds are being invaded by harp and grey seals?

"In fact, the people of the South Coast of Newfoundland are now also competing with the grey seals in the cod fishery, competing with seals, yet again, for their livelihood."

Recently, Mr. Efford released an independent study commissioned by his department which pegged the current harp seal population at a conservative 5.4 million animals. The study, "A Simulation Model of the Response of Harp Seals to Alternative Harvesting Strategies", is available from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture at 30 Strawberry Marsh Road, St. John's, Newfoundland, or at www.gov.nl.ca/fishaq/model/cover.htm.

The minister said: "While we in Newfoundland and Labrador and the federal minister of Fisheries and Oceans own Fisheries Resource Conservation Council identified a need for the federal government to develop a management plan for the overpopulated harp seal herd in the northwest Atlantic, the greys are also posing a problem, particularly with respect to the groundfish fishery. Mature grey seals, which are about twice the weight of harp seals, consume up to three times as much food as their smaller relatives.

"Now that the greys and harps are competing for the same food sources in Newfoundland waters they are increasing the strain on groundfish stocks which are struggling to recover and impacting severely on the livelihood of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

"The size of the grey seal herd and the resulting predation on the groundfish stocks are issues the federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister David Anderson must address. He must also be concerned about the historically high numbers of grey seals and their appearance in areas where sightings of them were once unheard of if resource conservation objectives are to be achieved."

Media contact: Mary MacNab, Sealing Industry Promotions Officer, (709) 729-3745, cell (709) 682-8270, e-mail: mmacnab@mail.gov.nf.ca

1999 01 14                       11:40 a.m.


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