Grey seals cull plan in Canada
The Canadian senate SC and the DFO may end up killing 70,0000 grey seals (or more) in Canada.
Unscientific Politically-Motivated Experimental Grey Seal Cull
November 12th, 2011
Senator Mac Harb, lone voice of reason in Canadian Senate, is calling for action on behalf of imperiled grey seals (photo credit: Erik Brush/CC)
I recently received an email from the office of Senator Mac Harb. Senator Harb seems to be the lone voice of reason within the Canadian Senate. It seems all other senators are blindly chanting the "SEALS MUST DIE!" mantra of the Harper government, following along like sheep with a scheme that will see over 140,000 grey seals slaughtered under the guise of a "targeted removal" but what is actually a vote-grabbing make-work project for sealers disgruntled at collapsed commercial markets for seal products.
And it is in the hands of the Senate Committee that the fate of grey seals lie. The Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans is currently studying the issue and has already heard testimony from DFO officials as well as former members of the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (the politically-appointed organization that recommended the experimental slaughter of grey seals).
Scheduled to appear next week are the president and executive director of the Canadian Sealers Association.
Notably, there is no indication the Senate Committee will hear testimony from leading scientists speaking against the cull. Effectively, the Committee is only hearing one side of the argument. But that is nothing new for this government. There have been numerous allegations that while discussing the grey seal predation issue, scientists opposed to a cull were removed and replaced by those willing to adhere to the Harper government's political agenda.
Incidentally, during DFO's testimony to the Senate Committee, David Balfour, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management for DFO suggested all seal carcasses would be dumped in the water since there are currently no markets for seal products ... So ... not only unscientific, inhumane and unsustainable, but also wasteful ...
Dear Friend,
The Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans has recently begun a study that could result in the killing of 70,000 grey seals off Canada's East Coast.
The Fisheries Minister is pushing federal scientists to justify the slaughter of seals through contrived studies and one-sided hearings for political reasons. He has decided to ignore factors such as the impact of uncontrolled foreign overfishing in the waters off our coast and the total lack of scientific proof that seals are affecting the cod's recovery.
The committee is considering an irresponsible cull that could, in my view, have serious negative impact on the Atlantic ecosystem and the long term health of many species, including cod. This slaughter would also result in untold costs to taxpayers and to Canada's international reputation.
I have called on the committee to do due diligence and gather scientific evidence from all sides of this issue, not simply the studies that fit in with the unjustifiable goal of killing 70,000 seals. I urge you to write to the committee and its members who can be contacted through the Committee website http://senate-senat.ca/pofo-e.asp.
The government needs to know how Canadians and people around the world feel about this indefensible slaughter.
Sincerely,
Hon. Senator Mac Harb
Chers amis,
Le Comité sénatorial permanent des pêches et océans a récemment entrepris une étude qui pourrait entraîner la mise à mort de 70 000 phoques gris au large de la côte Est du Canada.
Le ministre de Pêches et Océans pousse ses scientifiques à justifier l’abattage de phoques par des études peu crédibles et des avis tendancieux pour des raisons politiques.
Il a décidé de ne pas tenir compte de divers facteurs, comme les répercussions de la surpêche étrangère non réglementée dans les eaux internationales au large de nos côtes et l’absence totale de données scientifiques qui prouvent que les phoques menacent réellement le rétablissement des stocks de morue.
Le Comité examine la possibilité d’un abattage irresponsable qui pourrait, à mon avis, avoir de graves répercussions sur l’écosystème de l’Atlantique et sur la santé à long terme de bien des espèces d’animaux, dont la morue. Non seulement ce carnage serait très coûteux pour les contribuables, mais il porterait aussi atteinte à la réputation du Canada sur la scène internationale.
J’ai pressé le Comité de faire preuve de précaution et de rassemble et d’examiner les preuves scientifiques de toutes les parties concernées, et non uniquement les études qui viennent appuyer un objectif injustifiable, celui d’abattre 70 000 phoques. Je vous exhorte à communiquer avec le Comité et avec ses membres. Écrivez-leur sur le site Web du Comité en cliquant http:// senate-senat.ca/pofo-f.asp.
Le gouvernement doit connaître l’opinion des Canadiens et des gens du monde entier sur ce carnage indéfendable.
Sincères salutations,
L’hon. Mac Harb, Sénateur
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Senior Assistant Deputy Minister,
Ecosystems and Fisheries Management for DFO suggested
that all the seal carcasses would be dumped in the
water, since there are currently no markets for seal
product. This is not only unscientific, inhumane and
unsustainable, but it is also wasteful...
SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND:
This is only a sample of what to write. Use your own
imagination and remember, be always polite!
Dear Senator,
Just as it has been proven in the past by reliable Canadian scientists, the seals are not the ones to blame for the depletion of the cod and other species of fish in Eastern Canada. It is the lack of a proper management that lead to over fishing and left the Cod in Eastern Canada almost extinct.
All the good scientists and biologists know that the seals they eat the cod predators, so in order for the cod to survive, we need the seals. Also killing the seals destroy the ecological natural balance. What is the point in killing them? Nothing. So if they are too many and eventually they will lose many because of lack of food, that is nature. The DFO can't go on killing all Canadian seals that they don't like just because there are too many. That is senseless and brutal.
So, according to the DFO logic, any animal that eats fish should be killed?????
If there are too many grey seal, let nature deal with them in a normal way.
The DFO should stop blaming the seals for all their mistakes and stop playing God with the Canadian wildlife.
The whole words is aware about the unreliable DFO claims about the Canadian seals!
Enough is enough. How many more thousands seals have to be slaughtered and how much innocent blood has to run on the Canadian soil and ice to please the bloodthirsty DFO ?
NOTE: The Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management for DFO suggested all seal carcasses would be dumped in the water since there are currently no markets for seal products...So it is not only unscientific, inhumane and unsustainable, but it is also wasteful...
Please send a polite e-mail to these Senators:
mannif@sen.parl.gc.ca,
losier@sen.parl.gc.ca,
olived@sen.parl.gc.ca,
poyv@sen.parl.gc.ca,
hublee@sen.parl.gc.ca,
smithc@sen.parl.gc.ca,
patted@sen.parl.gc.ca,
rainen@sen.parl.gc.ca,
cochre@sen.parl.gc.ca,
poirir@sen.parl.gc.ca,
wattc@sen.parl.gc.ca
and for this you have to go on his website:
http://capebretonsenator.ca/ContactUs/
Thank you!
Fisheries Minister's Shocking Revelation - Seals Aren't Vegetarians
November 9th, 2011
Canadian Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield has finally broken his silence and responded to leading scientists' criticism regarding a proposed grey seal cull with a shocking revelation: "Seals aren't vegetarians or vegans."
Minister's shocking revelation: "Seals aren't vegetarians or vegans."
Yes, those sage words were uttered by our very own Minister of Few Words this afternoon to a Canadian Press journalist. The Minister had remained strangely silent while the furor grew over the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council's recommendations for a massive grey seal cull (unlike his predecessor Gail "Media Whore" Shea who loved talking to the media to the point of fabricating announcements). After reading Ashfield's quotes online today, I personally think he should have remained silent a little longer.
Yes, Minister, seals do eat fish. So do other marine predators, such as whales, sharks and dolphins. Are you suggesting we should kill those species as well, just in case they're to blame? After all, you don't know for sure seals are responsible for the failure of Gulf of St. Lawrence fish stocks to rebound. You just think they're the "most likely" cause. So if the idea is to kill a massive number of seals as an experiment to see if it helps fish stocks, why not kill a massive amount of all predators in the oceans and really double your chances of success! Not scientific enough for you? It's about as scientific as taking your science advice from a bunch of knuckle-dragging fishermen who "clean up real good" to sit in front of the Senate Committee and lie their asses off.
But I digress. Shortly after the FRCC released its report which recommended the removal of 140,000 grey seals in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence over a five year period, two of Canada's leading marine biologists spoke out against the scheme, branding it politically motivated and scientifically irresponsible. Hal Whitehead, a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax specializing in the study of whales said:
"Before humans started industrial fishing, there were large populations of seals and of cod. Clearly, they can coexist perfectly well. ... It appears to me that politicians are playing into this largely irrational hatred of seals to make it look like they're doing something."
Boris Worm, a Dalhousie biology professor who studies marine biodiversity, told media former fisheries minister Gail Shea had spoken in favour of a cull in 2009, and federal scientists have since been pressured to justify that decision. He said:
"It was something that was announced before the science was heard, and then a meeting was convened to produce the science to support that decision," he said, referring to a series of scientific workshops held last fall. "To me, as a scientist, that's not acceptable."
On September 26, 2011 an open letter was sent to Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield, signed by six marine scientists pointing out that the proposed greal seal cull is not supported by science and could have unexpected disastrous effects on our oceans. The signees urged the Minister to meet with independent scientists to discuss the folly of approving a large-scale cull of grey seals.
Minister Ashfield's reaction is tantamount to a slap in the face to these leading scientists. Obviously the Minister would rather take his science advice from a bunch of biased yes-men and fishermen hand-picked by the Fisheries Minister to sit on the board of the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council. No surprise there, however � Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans is notorious for making decisions based on political expediency and economics rather than conservation.
And Minister, please remind me, because I'm still confused on this point � how do you hope to pay for this cull? The cost of such a large-scale slaughter will be substantial and DFO is currently cutting its budget and slashing science programs. Oh, how silly of me, of course, the Canadian taxpayer will foot the bill for this make-work project for disgruntled sealers. Of course, the taxpayers will unwillingly hand over the cash so the sealers can happily bash and shoot in the skulls of nursing whitecoats and their mothers, and the Harper government can buy all the sealing/fishing votes for the next election.
And what do the Canadian taxpayers get? Shafted. Again. Of course.
The Canadian Press
Date: Tuesday Nov. 8, 2011 4:22 PM ET
FREDERICTON
Canada's fisheries minister is shrugging off accusations that a proposed cull of 140,000 Atlantic grey seals is being driven by politics, not science, saying "seals aren't vegetarians or vegans -- they eat fish."
Keith Ashfield responded Tuesday to four marine biologists at Dalhousie University in Halifax who say the five-year plan submitted for his approval is aimed only at appeasing fishermen as they struggle with dwindling cod stocks.
The scientists wrote an open letter to the minister in September, saying the proposal can't be justified by existing scientific evidence. They said the proposal, drafted by a group of federal scientists and industry representatives, was biased because it focused only on the negative impact of grey seals.
The minister, in Fredericton for a funding announcement, said Tuesday the proposal is based on rigorous scientific research that concludes hungry grey seals are the most likely reason why cod stocks are not recovering in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
"The information we received, based on science through a committee report, was that on the grey seal issue that they are having an impact on the cod stocks," Ashfield told reporters.
"They have suggested up to 70,000 seals per year should be removed from the herd. It has grown exponentially."
There are between 330,000 and 410,000 grey seals living off the Atlantic coast -- a 30-fold increase since the 1960s, the Fisheries Department says.
"When you look at it, seals aren't vegetarians or vegans -- they eat fish," Ashfield said. "They do have an impact."
Still, Ashfield has asked a Senate committee to take a closer look at the issue, an official for Newfoundland and Labrador Senator Fabian Manning said Tuesday. It is expected to report its findings next May.
In March, the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat -- a branch of the Fisheries Department -- called for a five-year experimental cull that would eliminate 70 per cent of the grey seals in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The cull could start with the killing of 73,000 seals in the first year alone, the secretariat said.
The Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, which includes scientists and fishing industry representatives, followed up with a report in September that endorsed the idea, saying a total of 140,000 seals should be killed over five years.
The biologists at Dalhousie were also critical of the council's report.
"Contrary to the pleadings in the FRCC report, the implementation of a grey seal cull represents the antithesis of a precautionary management approach," they said in their letter.
"It is well documented in the scientific literature ... that a cull could produce a number of unintended consequences. Scientists cannot rule out the possibility, for example, that a grey seal cull could have deleterious consequences for recovering fish stocks, including cod."
There are an estimated 104,000 grey seals that forage in the southern Gulf, including 36,000 from Sable Island, 5,000 from Nova Scotia's eastern shore and 63,000 resident seals.
Cod stocks off the East Coast collapsed in the early 1990s after decades of overfishing. The population is slowly recovering in some areas, but the cod could disappear from other areas, including the southern Gulf, scientists say.
Read more:
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20111108/seal-cull-science-111108/#ixzz1eTSCd4UZ
For more information on the grey seals culling plans on the Atlantic side of Canada, please check the website of my colleague Bridget of the Atlantic Canada Anti-Sealing Coalition:
http://www.antisealingcoalition.ca/newsstory.php?rid=717 http://www.antisealingcoalition.ca/updates-on-proposed-grey-seal-cull.php
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