DFO researchers are countering the common opinion that the harp seal population off Newfoundland and Labrador is “out of control,” and say a harp seal cull would have no measurable impact on cod stock recovery.
DFO Research Scientists Dr. Garry Stenson and Dr. Mariano Koen-Alonso hosted a tech briefing on local seal populations this morning at DFO headquarters in the White Hills.
They say that harp seal populations in the region are within historic levels after plummeting for a period between the turn of the last century to the 1960s with seal hunt catches peaking in the mid-1800s.
Groundfish stocks meanwhile have improved from very low levels following the moratorium, and as harp seal numbers were increasing.
DFO says the results of their seal predation study found that the fisheries and capelin availability were “significant drivers” of northern cod stocks, while seal consumption was not.
They say culling harp seals would not be expected to have a measurable impact on cod recovery.
Dr. Garry Stenson says they have a few common questions they want to address. Is the harp seal population out of control? They say no. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/k4GQfrfRid
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) June 29, 2021
