Canada is never, ever going to stop killing seals: Your tell-all guide to the seal hu

[McHoss]

Sea wolves...

Coyotes.

 

[CV32]

Live on the West Coast of BC... any salt water fisherman will tell you he wishes they could hunt seals. They are everywhere! That and sea lions. I recently heard that the seals consume millions of dollars worth of smolt being released out of the Fraser River. Not sure how legit this is... but it seems pretty damn feasible to me

Yes, they do enjoy hanging out at river mouths in the late spring/summer time.

 

[CV32]

So what does seal taste like? Also, why the club? Wouldn't a 22LR into the brain pan be quicker?

Most are harvested with a small caliber centerfire rifle nowadays (.22LR would not be legal), but the hakapik is still very efficient due to the structure of the seal skull.

 

[IronNoggin]

They should start shooting sea lions in the Strait of Georgia in BC.
There are thousands of them and they are creating environmental
issues.

Think MORE. Much more that is...

And of course this is coming back to bite us in the ass.
Due to the "starving southern killer whales" (apparently they cannot eat anything but chinook salmon) major and sweeping restrictions are being imposed on ALL salmon fisheries. Oh, exception being the racially segregated slaughter that takes place in the rivers. Apparently that slaughter is somehow "sacred" and must be maintained at all costs...
Drifting here - apologies.

Anyway, the government asked their professionals what should they do to improve the considerations for the starving orcas.

First & foremost, the biologists said "Do not rely on curtailing fisheries. That will have no significant nor long term success."

Second: Ramp up every hatchery you have to maximum production, and build a few more.

Third: Secure a war chest for rebuilding critical habitat - think Billions here - and get on with it yesterday.

Fourth (and here's where we get back on topic): There are currently 300,000 California Sea Lions along BC's coast. Their realistic carrying capacity is around 10 - 15 % of that. Additionally, harbour seal populations have exploded, and are as well far beyond what the system can support. An immediate and effective method of control must be established, which translates to an immediate and effective cull.
These same scientists have proven that between sea lions and seals, 45 - 65% of the annual production of chinook and coho salmon are consumed by these two populations in the Strait.

The government's reply: OK. Good. We will start curtailing fisheries then...

Yet another example of completely missing the mark.
So, non-FN offshore commercial and recreational fishers are taking massive hits starting now.
Freshwater access cut completely off for the same.
Business as usual for the "preferred ones" (including ongoing openings for recognized endangered stocks right now) and complete with blanket consent they can sell to anyone they wish.

In the meantime, the horde of seals and sea lions poise at the mouths of every river in the Strait & beyond.
Teaching their youngsters how to catch as many salmon as possible.
And their numbers continue to explode at an exponential rate...

How long the salmon can survive facing this double edged sword is anyone's guess.
Not long is mine.
Unless the government grows some balls, and starts dealing with the REAL problems in these matters, the salmon, and the Killer Whales are headed directly towards extinction.
Really.

Nog