Quote:
Quote by: Mr.Vicchio  ... the system set up doesn't endanger the seal to extinction. |
Actually, this isn't true. The population surveys and population models used by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are woefully inadequate and are incapable of detecting anything but massive population changes. The population of harp seal would have to decline by about 80% before the DFO would detect it with its present system.
The DFO science and monitoring is so poor, and the Total Allowable Catches so high since the mid-90s that the population of seals is likely much lower than DFO's current estimate of between 5 and 6 million animals.
This year, likely as a result of climate change, the natural mortality in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence was almost 100%. Nevertheless, Canada continued sealing.
If Canada managed its seal herds using the methods acceptable under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act, the TAC for harp seals would be around 50,000 not the current 275,000.
It's worth noting that Canada's DFO has yet to manage even one commercial marine species sustainably.
Regards
S.