How big is the Atlantic seal hunt, where is it taking place, and what exactly is being hunted?
There are federal quotas for three types of seals: harp seals, hooded seals and grey seals. Most of the hunt is for harp seals. The hunt usually opens in March in the “Gulf” areas around the Magdalen Islands and Prince Edward Island. The main hunt on the so-called “front” usually begins in April off the east coast of Newfoundland. It’s pretty much over by May. The 2007 harp seal total allowable catch has been set at 270,000. That’s down from the 2006 quota, 325,000, and about the same as the quota set from 1997 to 2002. Seal hunters do not always catch as many seals as they are allowed. The catch in 2001 was 226,000. In 2000, it was just 92,000 seals. Sometimes, hunters are allowed to exceed the pre-season quota: in 2002, the catch was 312,000 seals. The total allowable catch for harp seals is split between two areas: 70 per cent for the waters off Newfoundland and 30 per cent for the St. Lawrence Gulf region.
