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Sealing - A Canadian Perspective

Fisheries Peches 1+1 and Oceans et Oceans Canada 2 Underwater World

Seal Populations in Canada mately 2 to 2 1/2 million. They conclud- ed that between 1972 and 1983, the total Sealing Six species of seals inhabit Canadian population probably increased and that A Canadian waters; bearded seals, grey seals, har- since 1983, the population has certainly bour seals, harp seals, hooded seals and increased. The Royal Commission also Perspective ringed seals. Most are hunted by the expressed concern regarding the possi- native people of Canada's Arctic and ble impact of continued increases in the number of seals on the fisheries. P.A. Comeau sub-Arctic regions to furnish food, oil, clothing and income through the sale of Atlantic Seals Coordinator seal products. Life Cycle of a Harp Seal Department of Fisheries and Oceans Traditionally however, two species — Atlantic Fisheries the harp seal and the hooded seal — Harp seals of the Front and Gulf Program Planning & Coordination Branch 200 Kent Street have comprised the bulk of seals taken herds spend their summers feeding in Ottawa, Ontario KIA 0E6 during the annual Atlantic seal hunt off Arctic waters along the coasts of Baffin the east coast of Canada. Island and Greenland, ranging as far as Here, every March, vast numbers of Hudson Bay and Ellesmere Island. As harp seals and a smaller number of winter approaches, they migrate south hooded seals gather on ice floes to give in advance of the descending pack ice to birth (whelp) and, a few weeks later, to their whelping and breeding grounds off breed. the coast of Newfoundland and in the The harp seal is the principal species Gulf of St. Lawrence. hunted. The harp seal is, in fact, the Pups in the Gulf herd are usually born third most abundant species of seal in on the ice floes from late February to the world, after ringed and crabeater early March, with whelping taking place seals, and with a total population well slightly later at the Front. Females whelp in excess of 3 million animals at some distance from the edge of large worldwide. ice fields, on rough contoured ice sur- There are three distinct stocks of harp faces that afford protection from the seals. The White Sea and the Jan Mayen wind. stocks are found in the Northeast Pups weigh about 11 kg at birth and Atlantic. The Northwest Atlantic stock, gain weight rapidly to about 35 kg after the largest of the three, is found in approximately 10 days of nursing — one Canadian and Greenland waters. of the shortest-known nursing periods This Northwest Atlantic population is of any mammal. Within 10 to 14 days, further sub-divided into two herds, pups are weaned and abandoned by based on breeding areas. The Front herd their mothers. After leaving their pups, breeds on heavy Arctic ice floes off the the females mate with the males and coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. feed heavily on fish for several weeks The Gulf herd breeds on floating pack before moulting and commencing the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near the long journey northwards with the retreat Magdalen Islands. of the pack ice. Hooded seals also range throughout After weaning, the pup begins its first Arctic and sub-Arctic Atlantic waters, moult. At the age of approximately 12 whelping on more scattered ice floes fur- days the "whitecoat" becomes an ther off the eastern coast of Newfound- "overgang" when its silver-grey "beat- land. Hooded seals, however, have er" coat begins to appear. A few days played a relatively unimportant role in later it becomes a "tanner" as its white the Atlantic sealing industry. Because of hair loosens and begins to fall out. Dur- greater abundance, easier accessibility, ing the last stage of this moult, any re- and greater market demand, harp seals maining white hair is very loose and the account for more than 90% of sealing pup is called a "ragged-jacket". activity during the annual regulated Fully moulted at 4 weeks of age, the hunt. beaters enter the water and begin to The Royal Commission on Seals and feed, gradually moving northwards to the Sealing Industry in Canada (1986) the main summer feeding grounds off estimated that the population of harp the coast of Greenland. Harp seals are Cover Photo: Brian Roberts seals at the end of 1985 to be approxi- long-lived and often reach ages of 30 Underwater World 3

years or more. Female harp seals be- come sexually mature between 4 and 6 years of age. Males reach maturity at 7 or 8 years of age. Harp seals consume vast quantities of fish-estimated to range between 1.0 and 1.6 tonnes per animal annually. At cur- rent population levels, the Front and Gulf herds consume more fish than are caught by all countries fishing in the Northwest Atlantic. The most important species by weight of fish eaten is cape- lin, a small fish that is also an impor- tant food source for cod, sea-birds and whales. Harp seals have few natural predators except sharks, killer whales and polar bears.

The Royal Commission on Seals and the Sealing Industry in Canada

BARENTS SEA In August 1984, the Canadian govern- ment appointed a Royal Commission to look into and make recommendations on all aspects of seals and sealing in Canada. The Royal Commission was chaired by Mr. Justice Albert Malouf of ARCTIC OCEAN Nor Spitsbergen the Quebec Court of Appeal and com- posed of experts from four countries: Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, lic4 Jan Mayen and the United States. The Commission carried out extensive research and public consultations in ICELAND several countries and presented its report in late 1986, making a total of 45 recom- mendations. O Included as its key findings and recommendations were the following: — the seal hunt is a legitimate activity which should be continued within the principles of sound management of the stocks. — the harvesting methods for seals are acceptably humane, even more so FROBISHER BAY than some practices in commercial sr slaughterhouses.

e. — there is absolutely no conservation problem, most seal herds are prob- NEWFOUNDLAND HUDSON ably increasing in size. STRAIT THE — the income derived from the hunt, HUDSON BAY FRONT while not great, is significant to the QUEBEC hunters due to the lack of alternative economic opportunities in those THE GULF • areas and at the times when hunting GULF OF Magdalen Islands is carried out, and there is little or ST. LAWRENCE no waste. Breeding and moulting areas, and principal migration routes of the harp seal population. 4 Underwater World

The Commission also recommended the long term. Allowable seal harvest that the commercial harvesting of quotas are based on scientific informa- whitecoat harp seals and blueback hood- tion and sound conservation principles ed seals, as well as the taking of seals which currently allow for an increase in with nets be banned and that compen- harp and hooded seal populations. sation for losses due to the market col- Extensive research on seal populations lapse be paid to all sealers. has been carried out by government and independent scientists since 1950. Management of Seal Stocks Several methods have been used to es- timate the size of seal populations and In response to the recommendations the population growth rate, including of the Royal Commission, the Govern- aerial photography, tag and recapture ment announced a new seal policy in analysis, examination of age distribution December 1987. Under the new policy within sample populations, and first- the large vessel offshore seal hunt is no hand information from fishermen. longer permitted and all commercial hunting of whitecoat harp seals and The Importance of the Hunt blueback hooded seals was ended. In ad- dition, the netting of seals will be phased Fishing provides the economic base out except for traditional hunts north of for many Atlantic coastal communities. 53 degrees north latitude. As the Royal With their survival dependent on a sin- Commission recommended, the annual gle industry, fishermen harvest all the harvest of older seals by Inuit and other marine resources available on a season- coastal people will continue. al basis. Winter is a difficult time for As a result of this new policy, the cur- most inshore fishermen. With boats rent seal hunt is an inshore activity, car- locked in ice-choked harbours, unem- ried out by rural and coastal inhabitants ployment in some communities soars to which focuses on juvenile and older more than 90%. The annual seal harvest seals. Canada's policy on the manage- is, therefore, a welcome beginning to a ment of seal stocks is consistent with new fishing season, providing both food policies on the management of other liv- for the table and a timely source of mon- ing renewable resources. Humane har- ey to prepare boats, nets and gear for vesting of seals is allowed at levels which other commercial fishing activities will sustain the total populations over which will follow.

Research activities. Underwater World 5

The Landsmen of seal hunting — the often severe the harnessing and feeding of dog weather and ice conditions and the fre- teams. With greater contact between Sealers are either landsmen or long- quent difficulty of reaching migrating North and South, and especially the line fishing vessel operators, pre- seals. changes from harpoon to rifle and from dominantly inshore fishermen from dog-sled to snowmobile, the need for isolated bays and inlets of Newfound- Sealing in the North cash increased. Before resettlement into land, the North Shore and the Magda- larger communities, moreover, Inuit len Islands in Quebec, who usually hunt The Royal Commission on Seals and lived close to the better sealing grounds. within a few kilometres of their home Sealing made the following statements The sealer still uses the proceeds of communities. about native hunting: "Hunting of ma- previous hunts to travel to the next hunt, Most landsmen go sealing on foot or rine mammals (seals, walrus and whales) but by selling skins to buy fuel, rather from small boats, using rifles or clubs. has been, and continues to be, an in- than feeding seal meat to his dog team. When the ice is firm, landsmen can ven- tegral part of the way of life of Inuit, When the price of seal pelts is favoura- ture several kilometres from shore in as well as of some Indian groups. Seal- ble, fewer seals are required to fulfill the pursuit of seals. Other sealers travel fur- ing is carried out year round, though needs of the sealer and his family. ther afield in larger fishing boats, known there are seasonal changes in the Because of the nature of the Inuit as longliners. These boats are capable of methods of hunting and the species hunt, accurate figures on the number of following the seals out to sea, where caught. Ringed seals provide the major seals killed are not available. Most larger concentrations frequently occur. part of the catch throughout the year, statistics refer to the number of sealskins In recent years, approximately 9000 but in some areas harp seals, at the sold, which may considerably understate landsmen, including longliner sealers, northern end of their summer migra- the total kill, especially in years when have participated annually in sealing tion, are important. Smaller numbers of prices for skins are low. Annual kills both in the Gulf and on the Front. Most bearded and harbour seals and a very probably have amounted to several tens took seals for commercial purposes, al- few hooded seals are also taken. The of thousands, with considerable year-to- though some hunted primarily for meat seals killed are mostly adults or sub- year variation. for their own use thus taking only a few adults, and there is no hunt by northern For similar reasons it is very hard to seals. Landsmen take harp seal beaters, aboriginal people of harp or hooded seal put a dollar value on the seal hunt in the bedlamers and adults. pups. North. Only a part of the product of the The number of active sealers is usually In the past, the hunt was purely for hunt is sold for cash. The value of the less than the number of sealing licences subsistence; the sealer used the products meat and skins used by the hunter can issued annually, reflecting the vagaries of the seal hunt for food, clothing and be calculated on the basis of the labour and other costs involved in the hunt, or on the basis of the cost of equivalent store-bought clothing and store-bought food. To compare the value of pur- chased food to that of seal meat may be to underestimate the true value of the latter because much store-bought food has less nutritional value than seal meat." The European ban on harp and hood- ed seal pup pelts, opposition to the At- lantic seal fishery from some vocal interest groups, and uncertainty in the marketplace have led to depressed prices for all seal products, including those taken by Inuit hunters. This has had a devastating effect on the economic well- being of many Inuit communities.

Economic Contribution of Sealing

ts r The estimated average annual in- be comes of Newfoundland and Quebec

Ro fishermen who participate in sealing is

ian usually quite low — generally less than

Br half of the average annual earnings of Typical Newfoundland longliners. 6 Underwater World

Canadian workers in manufacturing dependence on the fisheries resource Humane Aspects of Sealing industries. base and the harsh winter climate and The average return from sealing ice conditions. The killing of seals, or of any other declined drastically following the mar- The following is a list of the value of animal, is certainly not a pleasant sight ket collapse of 1982-83, since then the major primary products: to watch. Nevertheless, the Royal Com- demand, prices and catches have been Oil: Seal oil, rendered from blubber, mission, as well as qualified veterinari- increasing slowly. Today, for some had an export value of approximately ans, animal pathologists and biologists fishermen, sealing can represent a third $400,000 in 1988. Seal oil is exported for who have observed the hunt first-hand or more of their annual incomes. Equal- processing into machinery lubricants, have attested to the humaneness of the ly important is the fact that this money edible oil products and cosmetics. clubbing method when it is carried out comes just before the start of the spring Pelts: In 1988, the landed value of At- properly and in accordance with the and summer fishing season and at a time lantic coast seal pelts (the amount Regulations. The regulations specify the when other employment opportunities received from dockside sale to proces- calibre of firearms and types of ammu- are unavailable. sors) was approximately $1.2 million. nition which can be used in order to en- In recent years, more than 10 000 Pelts are processed to remove blubber sure that the animals are killed as rapidly people have been involved in the Atlan- and meat, and then exported to be made and as humanely as possible. With the tic Canadian sealing industry, including into a variety of clothing articles, includ- hunt now focussing largely on older sealers, truckers, buyers, workers in ing coats, jackets, hats, boots, shoes, animals, firearms are used to a greater processing plants handling and process- handbags and belts. extent. The regulations also ensure that ing the pelts, oil and meat. When con- Meat: Seal meat is consumed extensive- only experienced hunters, fully able to sidering the economic contribution of ly throughout the Atlantic region, al- comply with all the regulations do par- sealing to the Atlantic economy, it is though commercial sale of fresh and ticipate in the hunt. necessary to recognize the isolated na- frozen meat is confined primarily to ture of many fishing communities, their Newfoundland. In 1988, meat sales in Newfoundland exceeded $400,000. Underwater World 7

Perceptions and Perspectives have been eating seal meat, using the oil certainties of nature and changing mar- from seal fat, and making articles of ket conditions, upon what he can catch Why has the annual Atlantic seal hunt clothing from seal pelts for centuries. and how much his catch is worth. The aroused such international controversy? Seals are a naturally renewable resource fisherman has the greatest vested interest Harp seals are not an endangered spe- whose use is fully in step with an eco- in ensuring the stocks he harvests do not cies — a fact that has been amply estab- logically conscious world. decline in abundance. lished with extensive scientific research. Opponents of the industry have sug- Canadian seal management strategies The hunt is closely regulated and the gested otherwise, questioning the moral- are entirely in accord with the objectives killing methods have been determined to ity of killing wildlife for human use and of the World Conservation Strategy. be humane. stating that seal products can easily be Sealing has been an important econom- Sealing provides an important source replaced with man-made substitutes. ic activity for both the Inuit and Atlan- of both food and income to many Such views reflect the attitudes of a tic fishermen for centuries. Atlantic fishermen and to native highly urbanized society where the har- The hunt is humane and there is no Canadians. vesting and use of natural products — evidence that harp seals are in any way In spite of all these facts, the seal in- and even an understanding of nature — endangered. Rather, the best scientific dustry continues to be under attack, seem increasingly out of place. evidence indicates an increase in popu- primarily because anti-sealing groups For the people engaged in Canada's lation size. Based on all these facts, have used the photogenic qualities of sealing industry, however, survival is Canada will continue to manage seal new born harp seal pups to shift the fo- directly dependent upon weather, tides populations in the same manner as all cus of the debate from the issue of ra- and the bounty of the sea. Far removed other renewable marine resources: to tional utilization of a natural resource from the world of artificial and pack- provide the greatest long-term benefits to an emotional appeal. aged convenience, the livelihood of the to Canadians within the limits of sound Is the concern over the seal hunt due fisherman depends entirely upon the un- conservation principles. to the end use of the products? People

Explanation of Terms

Beater a fully moulted harp seal pup from 3 1/2 weeks to 1 year old. Beaters have r short-haired, dark-spotted, silver-grey coats. Bedlamer an immature harp seal from 1 to 5 years old with a spotted coat. The distinc- tive saddle or harp-shaped markings of the adult harp seal develop gradually. Blueback a hooded seal pup up to 1 year old with a short hair coat ranging from dark ish blue grey on the back to cream on the belly. The Front an area of open water and ice along the northeast coast of Newfoundland, the east coast of Labrador, and the Strait of Belle Isle where the largest con- centration of harp seal whelping and breeding takes place. The Gulf the Gulf of St. Lawrence, principally around the Magdalen Islands, where a smaller population of harp seals gathers to whelp and breed. Landsmen fishermen who go sealing on foot or from small open boats. Longliners a generic term for decked fishing boats between 11 and 20 metres in length, but weighing less than 150 tonnes. Sealing from these vessels is part of the landsmen harvest with sealers using rifles to take primarily beaters and older seals. Overgang a weaned harp seal pup during the preparatory stage of its first moult; long white hair is still firmly attached but silver-grey beater coat has begun to appear at approximately 12 days of age. Ragged-jacket a weaned harp seal pup during the last stages of its first moult, from 2 1/2 to 4 weeks old. Tanner a weaned harp seal pup during mid-stage of its first moult, white hair is loose and can be easily pulled out at approximately 16 days of age. Tanner pelts are used exclusively for the production of leather. Whelp the act of giving birth. Whitecoat a harp seal pup from 3 to 10 days old, named for its distinctive long white hair.

8 Underwater World

Underwater World factsheets are brief illustrated accounts of fisheries resources and marine phenomena pre- pared for public information and edu- cation. They describe the life history, geographic distribution, utilization and population status of fish, shellfish and other living marine resources, and/or the nature, origin and impact of marine processes and phenomena.

Typical beater seal.

Others in this series: Alewife Lumpfish American Eel Marine Fish Eggs and Larvae American Plaice Northern Shrimp American Shad Oyster American Smelt Pacific Herring Artic Char Pacific Salmon Artic Cod Pollock Atlantic Cod Red Hake Atlantic Groundfish Red Sea Urchin Atlantic Halibut Red Tides Atlantic Herring Redfish (Ocean Perch) Atlantic Mackerel Rockfish Atlantic Pelagic and Diadromous Fish Roundnose Grenadier Atlantic Salmon Sand Lance Atlantic Shellfish Sea Cucumber Atlantic Snow Crab Sea Scallop Published by: Bluefin Tuna Selected Freshwater Fish Capelin Selected Shrimps of British Columbia Communications Directorate Cetaceans of Canada Soft-Shell Clam Department of Fisheries and Oceans Crabs of the Atlantic Coast of Canada Spiny Dogfish Ottawa, Ontario Dungeness Crab Squid K1A 0E6 Grey Seal Thorny and Smooth Skates Haddock Trout in Canada's Atlantic Provinces DFO/4311 UW/60E Harbour Seal in Canada Turbot (Greenland Halibut) Harp Seal Walleye °Minister of Supply and Services Hooded Seal White Hake Canada 1989 Irish Moss Winter Flounder Cat. No. Fs 41-33/60-1989E Lake Trout Witch Flounder ISBN 0-662-17269-8 Lingcod Yellowtail flounder Lobster Disponible en francais