Preparing for the hunt

LEWISPORTE - Although no opening dates have yet been set for the 2008 seal harvest, quotas have been announced and they aren't sitting well with those involved in the industry.

With an estimated population of 5.5 million, the 2008 seal hunt quota of 275,000 isn't the news sealers wanted to hear.

Although the total allowable catch (TAC) has seen an increase of 5,000 over 2007, the Canadian Sealers Association was asking for a TAC of 300,000.

This allocation includes 2,000 seals for personal use, 4,950 seals for Aboriginal initiatives and a carry forward of 16,186 seals for those fleets who did not capture their quota from 2007. Once the carry forward is deducted, existing sharing arrangements remain in place, with the Front receiving about 70 per cent of the TAC and about 30 per cent for the Gulf. The 2008 hooded seal TAC has been set at 8,200 animals out of a herd of 600,000.

Local fisherman Clyde Noble is preparing his vessel to take part in the seal hunt again this year. Mr. Noble is relatively new to this fishery, this being his third year.

With an estimated population of 5.5 million seals, Mr. Noble described the quotas announced as less than a drop in the bucket.

With the quotas and the prices that are being offered for seals, Mr. Noble wonders if it is even worth it to be involved.

"The price is down on the seals, I'm hearing anywhere from $20 to $40 dollars, but you won't know the true price until you get out and get back," he said. "With the cost of fuel, if you are only going to get $20 a seal, if you get 500, you aren't even going to break even."

Another factor Mr. Noble said fisherpersons have to consider is the wear and tear on their vessel.

"When you look at it, pounding your boat through the ice is the same as running into rocks all day long," he said. "So if you are not going to get $80 or $100 for a seal, it is not worth going out for. It is hard on a vessel."

Despite that Mr. Noble said he still intends to take to the waters for the opening of this years seal hunt.

Opening dates for the 2008 harp seal hunt will be announced in the coming weeks, following consultation with industry.