Gallery of "nuisance
seals" killed by Nova Scotian fishermen
Numbers
of "nuisance seals" killed in Nova Scotia, and elsewhere in Canada,
are unknown because there exists no recording or reporting requirement for fishermen
who kill them. From the frequency of carcass sightings, it seems that the numbers
killed may be considerable. However, the impact of this activity on the seal populations
is unknown. Tourists from other countries are often shocked and disgusted to see
dead seals littering the otherwise attractive coastline of Nova Scotia. In the
neighbouring United States, and in European countries, seals are generally protected
from deliberately being injured or killed by people. Most developed countries
no longer accept the myth that killing seals will enhance the health of fish stocks.
Click on small photos below
to view larger images
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| Grey
seal carcass at Prospect, N.S. |
| A
common shoreline discovery in recent years, fishermen who shoot "nuisance seals"
are not required to retrieve the carcasses. Rotted beyond where seagulls will
touch it, approach a dead seal in this condition from upwind only...because the
stench can be overpowering. |
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| Adult
grey seal |
| Killed
by fishermen, shot or entangled in fishing gear. Beer can tucked under flipper.
(Photo: COHPS) | |
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| Adult
harbour seal |
| Killed
by fishermen, likely a "nuisance seal."
(Photo: COHPS) |
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| Floating
carcass, probably a grey seal |
| An
unpleasant sight - and smell - encountered too often by visitors to Nova Scotia
who pay for eco-tours by sea kayak. Undoubtedly a "nuisance seal" shot by fishermen. |
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| ...Another
seal carcass |
| On
a short kayak excursion in Halifax County, during summer 2003, three seals in
this condition were encountered along less than one mile of coastline. |
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| Atlantic
cod and harbour seal |
| Although
predator and prey, these are not natural "enemies." Seals and cod both fall prey
to humans... sometimes both dying on the same hook. Unexpectedly, the net end
result is that the ocean itself loses strength.
(Photo: COHPS) |
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Photos courtesy Canadian
Ocean Habitat Protection Society. | 
