The fisheries union is launching a petition calling on the federal government to do something about the number of seals in Atlantic Canada.
The federal government notes that it has established a task force in the region to review seal science.
FFAW Calls on Federal Government to Take Action on Seal Overpopulation #nlpoli https://t.co/e9NReREPji pic.twitter.com/QXLE9lJp3e
— FFAW-Unifor (@FFAW_Unifor) August 28, 2019
Last week, a DFO scientist attributed the threatened extinction of gulf cod to grey seal over-population, and FFAW-Unifor has similar concerns in Newfoundland and Labrador regarding the impact seals have on fish stocks. Union president Keith Sullivan says DFO has remained complacent while evidence mounts.
There are about 8-million seals in Atlantic Canada. An adult grey seal can consume about two tonnes of prey each year while harp seals consume more forage fish such as capelin.
Sullivan says more can be done to promote the industry and find new markets for seals.
Meanwhile, Sullivan acknowledges that Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has established the task force, but he says the federal government has to do more than just that.
