Bad science further threatening Canadian marine ecosystems

The Canadian Government's three-year Atlantic Seal Hunt Management Plan (for the period 2003-2005) allows the largest commercial hunt of harp seals since total allowable catches (TACs) were first introduced in 1971. Even if management conditions are strictly adhered to, the hunt is expected to result in substantial reductions in harp seal populations over time.

"It is irresponsible and scientifically unjustifiable of the Canadian Government to allow the killing of nearly a million seals when their own scientists are unable to accurately substantiate the size of the herd, the actual number of seals taken in the hunt or the impact of external pressures like climate change on the health of the population," said Mhairi Dunlop from Greenpeace International. "The Canadian Government has a long history of mismanaging marine ecosystems, yielding to the short-term interests of the fishing and sealing industries at great cost to jobs and marine life."

The report, "Canadian Seal Hunt: No Management and No Plan", provides an historical and ecological background against which the scientific justifiability and ecological sustainability of the current and proposed future Canadian harp seal hunts can be evaluated. In particular, it documents the diversity of threats facing seal populations, including the commercial hunt itself, and discusses the known and perceived interactions of harp seals with other components of the ecosystem and with commercial fisheries.

Among the report findings are:

- Failure to accurately reflect the actual number of seals killed in the hunt rendering the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) quota figures scientifically indefensible. The TAC or quota for harp seals in 2003-2005 is 975,000 but this figure does not take into account seals that are 'struck and lost': illegally hunted, killed and discarded due to pelt damage and those killed for their organs and therefore not included in the pelt count.

- Population projections are based on assumptions that environmental and biological factors remain unchanged over the short and long term, a premise that is highly questionable in light of the escalating impact of climate change on the oceans and ice conditions.

- Quotas are based on a seal census conducted at five year intervals. Because the hunt focuses on seal pups (nearly 95% will be over 14 days old but under one year old) that do not reach breeding age for five years, impacts on the herd can take as many as 10 years to show up and 15 years to establish any meaningful trends. This renders DFO conservation milestones and monitoring virtually meaningless.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans claim a "precautionary approach" to marine protection is a key principle of their management model. If they are true to their principles they will stop the hunt in light of this report.