Fisheries and Oceans Canada
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Total Allowable Catch for the 2009 Atlantic Seal Hunt
March 25, 2009
Harp Seals
- The annual TAC is set at 280,000 animals in 2009.
- The TAC for harp seals includes a carry forward of 13,092 seals for those fleets that did not meet their 2008 allocations.
- A carry forward option, which is reviewed annually, means fleets can carry forward into the next season up to 10 percent of their allocation if not fully utilized, provided there are no compelling conservation concerns.
- The Front (waters east of Newfoundland and Labrador) will receive approximately 70% of the TAC and approximately 30% will be assigned to the Gulf of St. Lawrence
- The hunt of juvenile harp seals (whitecoat) has not been allowed since 1987. Marine Mammal Regulations also prohibit the trade, sale or barter of the fur of juveniles.
Hooded Seals
- The TAC is set at 8,200 animals out of a herd of 600,000.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada will not be considering a commercial hunt for hooded seals (bluebacks).
Grey Seals
- The TAC is set at 50,000 animals.
- This includes an allocation of 2,200 seals for Hay Island.
Ringed, Harbour and Bearded Seals
- There are no TACs or allocations set on these species. Licences and permits will be used to control any commercial harvest for these species.
Management Measures for 2009
- Recent amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations dealing with sealing methods will further enhance the humaneness of Canada’s annual seal hunt.
- Together with the 2009 licence conditions, which deal with other related aspects of the three-step process, the proposed amendments clearly articulate the requirements for a humane kill. They provide the basis for a shared understanding of requirements in support of improved sealing practices and better compliance and enforcement.
- A number of measures in 2009 aim to decrease the possibility of quota overruns. These include: shorter and more controlled opening periods (possibly half-days for some fleets); coordinated regional management and monitoring plans; monitoring at dockside; mandatory hail-outs on departure for some fleets; and daily hails of catches for all sealing vessels, among other measures.
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