Seal Hunt Management Plan increase a positive step for the province�s sealing industry

An increase in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the province�s seal fishery is a positive step for the industry. Gerry Reid, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today commended the federal government�s new Atlantic Seal Hunt Management Plan. The plan sets the TAC at 975,000 over three years, with an annual TAC of up to 350,000 in any two years.

"The provincial government, along with industry groups, have been lobbying Ottawa for several years to increase the seal quota, and I am very pleased that Minister Thibault recognized that the time has come for an increase," said Minister Reid. "Last year was a record season for our sealing industry, with more than 300,000 seals taken. It was also a record year in terms of markets, as 2002 registered some of highest price per pelts in history. We have a healthy and abundant population, and a strong market. The increase in the TAC is reflective of these conditions, and I applaud the minister for taking this decision."

This plan will benefit Newfoundland and Labrador sealers, in that it will provide greater certainty in planning their activities for a three year period. "Previously, sealers could not plan far in advance, as the TAC was always for a one-year period only," added Minister Reid. "In the province�s presentation to the Eminent Panel on Seals, we recommended the implementation of a multi-year plan; in fact, we have lobbied the federal government for several years on this issue. I am pleased to see that the minister accepted that recommendation, as a multi-year TAC will provide sealers with a greater flexibility to respond to market demands and other conditions."

Minister Reid is also encouraged as he sees this announcement as a small but positive step toward addressing the problem of seal predation on groundfish stocks. The majority of groundfish stocks off the province�s coasts have not recovered to pre-moratorium levels, and it is speculated that the federal government will this year once again close some cod fisheries which were reopened in the late 1990's.

"There is no doubt that seal predation on groundfish is impeding the recovery of those stocks," added Minister Reid. "The seal herd is in excess of five million, and as the herd continues to enjoy a population explosion, the cod fishery simultaneously decreases and suffers higher mortality rates. There are certainly a number of issues which need to be addressed in dealing with the state of the cod fisheries, and one of the main factors is the impact of seal predation. An increase in the TAC will not solve this problem, however it is a step in the right direction."

The federal government has also committed to evaluating the feasibility and value of seal exclusion zones to protect aggregations of spawning cod stocks. "The province proposed the concept of seal exclusion zones in our presentation to the Eminent Panel on Seals, and it is very encouraging to hear that Minister Thibault is willing to explore this idea," said Minister Reid. "I am hopeful that DFO will give full consideration to developing a rational plan for the implementation of seal exclusion zones, in an effort to address seal predation on cod stocks."

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709) 729-3733, or (709) 727-3438.

2003 02 03                                         12:05 p.m.