The province’s fisheries minister is throwing cold water on the idea of a cull to control the ever-expanding seal population off Newfoundland and Labrador.

But Elvis Loveless says he is open to exploring more marketing opportunities for the resource.

Loveless was responding to questions from the PC Opposition in the House of Assembly Thursday, following release of a Senate committee report on east coast seal populations and their impact on fish stocks.

It’s estimated there are about eight million mammals throughout the region, but their consumption habits remain unclear. Many in the fishing industry, however, believe seals are decimating some stocks, including cod.

Loveless says he’s looking forward to discussing the situation with federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier.

“I’m hoping next week that I will get a chance to meet with her, and meet with the fur industry around potential options,” Loveless said in the House. “There have been ideas of culling the seals, but that’s not the answer, and that’s coming from the industry.”

The Senate committee in question, which has been critical of Ottawa’s approach to seal management and science, is not pushing for a cull, either.

Committee chair and NL Senator Fabian Manning says there is no appetite for a cull, but he’s adamant that the population can be controlled by making a seal harvest economical and promoting the products domestically and abroad.

“If this was happening to any other industry in this country, whether it was beef or pork, whatever, the place would be in an uproar,” said Manning. “There’d be a delegation going all around the world, dealing with the different governments, whether it’s the EU or the U.S.

“But because it’s seals off the east coast of Newfoundland and Canada, it’s just not on the radar.”

The Senate committee’s main recommendation calls for Ottawa to craft a seal population management strategy within six months.