Funding Provided For Sealing Information Workshops

The Provincial Government is providing funding to the Fur Institute of Canada and Marine Institute to carry out workshops with sealers. The purpose of the workshops is to engage sealers on the most current harvesting practices and inform them of changes to existing harvesting methods as the regulation of the industry continues to evolve. Approximately $83,000 is being provided through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program. This program is part of the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy.

�Our seal harvest is continuously under scrutiny across the globe,� said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. �The industry has shown a willingness to work with the Independent Veterinarian Working Groups and adopt their recommendations. The industry, our academic institutions and Provincial Government are working together to make sure that seals continue to be harvested in the most humane manner possible.�

The workshops will be used as a tool to assess the needs for training in future educational programs. Training is an important element of increased professionalization of the sealing industry. Training initiatives have also taken place in Quebec and Nunavut.

The workshops will engage sealers in discussions with veterinarians, academic institutions, the Canadian Coast Guard, representatives from the Federal and Provincial Governments, and other industry stakeholders. It will also address safety issues for sealers.

As part of the workshops, veterinarians will consult directly with sealers on key aspects of the harvests. The workshops will also provide opportunities to consider new practices and industry regulations as the Federal Government considers changes to marine mammal regulations.

The seal harvest generates approximately $30 million annually for the provincial economy, including secondary industries such as the processing of seal pelts and the production of seal meat products and seal oil capsules. Some sealers have stated that their income from sealing can represent from 25 to 35 per cent of their total income. Furthermore, a number of health benefits have been associated with the use of seal oil capsules.

�We wish the Marine Institute and Fur Institute of Canada every success as they pursue this timely initiative,� said Minister Hedderson. �We believe that it will help to ensure that our sustainable sealing industry remains a vibrant and integral part of our province�s economy.�

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Media contact:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 680-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca