Department of Fisheries and Oceans
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Released: 20 December, 2000

Dhaliwal Announces 2001 Atlantic Seal Management Measures

December 20, 2000

OTTAWA -- Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for harp seals for the year 2001 will be maintained at the 1997-2000 level of 275,000. The decision takes into account recent scientific information and last yearÂ's harvest, which was only 92,000 (33%) of the TAC.

"Given last yearÂ's low harvest and the continuing health and abundance of the seal population, existing management measures will remain in place until I receive further advice from a Panel established last Spring," Mr. Dhaliwal said. "The work of the Panel will add to the valuable knowledge already accumulated through the many collaborative initiatives currently underway in the department."

In May 2000, Minister Dhaliwal appointed a Panel of eminent persons to provide advice on a long-term strategy for the management of seal populations. The Panel, which will provide its recommendations to the Minister in 2001, is examining the state of science on seals, including methodologies for estimating populations and the magnitude of the hunt, as well as the impact of seals on commercial fish stocks such as cod.

The most recent harp seal population estimate, based on an extensive survey conducted in 1999, places the population at around 5.2 million seals. This indicates that the seal population has remained steady at its highest levels since the 1970s when it was just under 2 million animals.

This survey also established the replacement harvest to be approximately 533,000. At this level of replacement harvest, the seal population would be expected to remain stable at current harvest levels. Assuming that the levels of bycatch and the Greenland harvest remain at their 1999 level, and accounting for animals struck and lost, the replacement yield for seals in 2000 in Atlantic Canada was 257,000. Given the low catch level in 2000, this yearÂ's harvest level is considered to be conservation-based.

The results of the recently completed population survey coupled with the recommendations from the Panel will contribute to the long-term management plan. Other factors that contribute to the departmentÂ's knowledge include initiatives dealing with seal diets and ongoing studies related to the abundance, distribution and potential impact of seals on fish stocks.

The licence conditions put in place in 2000 to prohibit the harvest of whitecoats and bluebacks will remain in place for the 2001 season.

The Minister also announced that the hooded seal TAC will remain at the 1998-2000 level of 10,000 animals. As in the 2000 management plan, a small harvest of grey seals will be allowed in areas other than Sable Island.

For more information on the Panel, please see our news release titled: "Dhaliwal announces formation of eminent Panel on Seal Management" at

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/communic/newsrel/2000/hq14_e.htm

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