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Released: 05 November, 1999
Government Tables Response To Standing CommitteeÂ's Report On Seals
November 5, 1999
OTTAWA -- The Government of Canada today tabled the Government Response to
the Thirteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans Â- The
Seal Report.
Fisheries and Oceans Minister Herb Dhaliwal said the Government has accepted
a major recommendation of the Committee to appoint a panel of eminent persons to
provide advice on the long-term strategy for the management of seal populations.
"The Government has carefully considered the CommitteeÂ's
recommendations. As the Committee discovered, there are difficult and sometimes
contentious issues associated with sealing. Given these strong views, I believe
there is value in asking a panel to take a fresh and independent look at some of
the issues being debated," Mr. Dhaliwal said.
The panel will augment, not replace, the many collaborative initiatives the
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) undertakes with those who have
important contributions to make to the scientific study and management of seal
populations.
The Minister also said he will refer two other Committee recommendations Â-
the establishment of experimental seal exclusion zones and experimental seal
harvests Â- to the panel for study.
"The Standing CommitteeÂ's report, previous recommendations from the
Fisheries Resource Conservation Council and advice from the panel will provide
valuable input into the development of a long-term strategy for the management
of seal populations," Mr. Dhaliwal said.
Mr. Dhaliwal noted that DFO is reviewing its own Marine Mammal Regulations to
update and modernize them. The process has involved consulting more than 80
groups, including Aboriginal people, representatives of the commercial sealing
industry and conservation and animal rights groups.
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Related Information:
The Seal
Report: Sealing Issues
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Heather Bala
MinisterÂ's Office
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
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