The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says it’s no surprise to find a seal with crab in its stomach.

DFO was responding to the discovery of crab crammed into the stomachs of six seals harvested off the Northern Peninsula late last week.

The Department says there are six species of seal in waters surrounding Newfoundland and Labrador, and the diet varies according to species.

Bearded seals, an Arctic species that is relatively uncommon in Newfoundland waters, are known to eat species including crab.

The greatest predators of snow crab are cod and thorny skate.

DFO says based on all research to-date, fishing and climate conditions have the greatest impact on snow crab stocks, and seal predation is not a major factor.

Groundfish predation has dropped slightly since 2018, and could benefit snow crab in the coming years according to DFO.