A Seal Summit will be held in the capital city this fall to invite collaboration and discussions among scientists, commercial harvesters, Indigenous groups and provincial and territorial representatives.
The announcement was made in Corner Brook yesterday.
The Summit, hosted by DFO, is another step in addressing recommendations made in a report submitted to Fisheries and Oceans by the Atlantic Seal Science Task Team.
The report offered a number of other recommendations including opportunities to increase fishing industry involvement in seal science projects, and ways to better communicate scientific findings to the fishing industry. That includes adding a section on seal impacts in Fish Stock Rebuilding Plans and the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan—where appropriate.
DFO will also explore opportunities to further develop the market for Canadian seal products and advance scientific research on seals.
There are six species of seal off the east coast of Canada, with harp seal populations estimated in the range of 7.6 million animals. There were 4,800 commercial sealing licences issued in Eastern Canada last year.
Meanwhile, the Fur Institute of Canada welcomes the report from the Task Team and the summit, saying it comes at a time of uncertainty for communities on Canada’s East Coast that rely on ocean industries including sealing.
They recommend government take immediate action on implementing all recommendations in the report, and believe the summit will be essential to setting a course for Canada’s seal industry and fisheries management for years to come.
