Fisheries and Land Resources
May 16, 2017

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources:

Minister Crocker Represents Province at Seal Day on the Hill

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, I was pleased to attend Seal Day on the Hill events in Ottawa. Seal Day on the Hill brings together various levels of government and industry to discuss and promote the true values of the Canadian sealing industry.

This event provides a great opportunity to highlight the many benefits our seal resources provide such as the nutritional and health advantages associated with Omega-3 fatty acids found in seal products.

In 2016, seal fishery landings in Newfoundland and Labrador totaled approximately 66,500, nearly double 2015 harvest levels. While statistics for the current season have not been finalized, data collected to date indicates approximately 80,000 seals have been harvested so far in 2017. This confirms 2017 will see the most seals harvested in Newfoundland and Labrador since 2013.

Mr. Speaker, events like Seal Day on the Hill allows us to highlight the importance of the sealing industry for our coastal communities and the growth opportunities that exist in this industry. The seal harvest is one of the most sustainable humane and best managed harvests of mammals in the world. I would like to acknowledge the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Fur Institute of Canada for organizing this year’s events and I am pleased to announce my department provided a grant of $10,000 to the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador to help with this event.

We will continue to work with industry and the Federal Government to ensure this economically valuable industry remains viable well into the future.

Thank you.

2017 05 16                              1:55 p.m.