NEW SEAL STUDY CONFIRMS WHAT HARVESTERS HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) welcomes new research from The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, confirming what Newfoundland and Labrador fish harvesters have been saying for decades: harp seals are having a major impact on groundfish recovery in our waters.

The study, published in Marine Ecology Progress Series, found that from 2018 to 2020, the harp seal population consumed 24 times more cod, halibut, and plaice than what was caught by the commercial fishery — underscoring the significant role of seal predation in groundfish stock status.

“For years, harvesters have been calling on DFO to acknowledge the obvious — that seal predation is a major barrier to rebuilding fish stocks,” says FFAW-Unifor Secretary-Treasurer Jamie Baker. “This study validates what’s been seen on the water and reinforces the need for seal population management.”

FFAW-Unifor has been consistent in urging DFO to address seal overpopulation and include predation in stock assessments, warning that ignoring this factor undermines both science and sustainability. With harp seal populations exceeding 4 million, the Union maintains a balanced ecosystem is impossible without management measures.

“Science is finally catching up to what harvesters have been witnessing for years,” says Baker. “If DFO wouldn’t listen to harvesters before, maybe they’ll listen now. Action must be taken to incorporate seal predation into stock assessments — it’s a critical step toward accurate science and responsible ecosystem management.”

It’s also important that government continue to support the marketing of seal products that are sustainable, healthy and responsible.

“A consistent harvest of seals, combined with increased demand and better market access would certainly help drive effective management of the population as well as create new opportunities in rural and coastal communities,” Baker adds.