NR-HQ-95-17E

TOBIN ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL SEAL MANAGEMENT MEASURES

February 10, 1995

CORNER BROOK, NFLD -- Brian Tobin, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced further management measures to address concerns over the large populations of harp, hooded and grey seals along Canada's east coast.

The seal licensing policy is being amended to allow issuance of personal use licences in 1995 to residents adjacent to established sealing areas throughout Newfoundland, Quebec's Upper and Lower North Shores, Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands.

Applicants who hold a valid provincial hunting licence for big game or who hold a hunter's capability certificate and have attended a mandatory information session will be authorized by licence to take a maximum of six seals for their own use. These information sessions, on regulations, safety conditions, and on the proper handling of harvested seals, are being developed in conjunction with sealers associations. A minimal fee of $10.00 will be charged to participants for the session.

Personal use licences will be valid for a one month season. The dates will be established on a sealing area basis to coincide with the period when seals are most easily accessible and suitable for use as food.

To encourage the expansion of the commercial land-based harvest, currently far below the Total Allowable Catch, the Minister announced that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will provide a $0.20 per pound subsidy for landed seal meat. This will ensure the full utilization of harvested seals.

The Minister also said he would permit a limited harvest of grey seals which the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council has identified as a significant cod predator. This pilot scale harvest would be limited in 1995 to a few hundred grey seals taken from areas other than Sable Island. The seals harvested would be used as a basis for a trial processing and marketing project to test the commercial potential of grey seal products.