Review of the Marine Mammal Regulations: Implementing the 2005 recommendation by the Independent Veterinarians Working Group

Proposed Amendments to Sections 2, 28 and 29 of the Marine Mammal Regulations

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is proposing amendments be made to Sections 2, 28 and 29 of the Marine Mammal Regulations. These amendments are intended to come into effect for the 2009 seal harvest.

Amendments to Section 2 will establish definitions in subsection (2) to provide clarity on the killing process, including definitions for "crushed skull", "palpation of the skull", "bleeding", and "cranium".

Amendments to Section 28 will:

• remove the requirement for checking via the blinking reflex test,

• clarify that the purpose of checking by palpation is to ensure that the seal is irreversibly unconscious or dead,

• require that the seal be stuck on the cranium rather than the "forehead", and

• prohibit the use of hakapik as the primary striking tool on an adult seal

Amendments to Section 29 will replace the requirement for a blink test prior to skinning or bleeding, with a requirement for bleeding prior to skinning.

Click below to view the existing Part IV of the Marine Mammal Regulations relating to seals:

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cr/SOR-93-56/bo-ga:l_II::bo-ga:l_III?page=4