Les bébés phoques se noient/Le gouvernement reste indifféren

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Les bébés phoques se noient par milliers, mais le gouvernement canadien reste indifférent ...
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March 26, 2010




GATINEAU, Que. — Lack of sea ice in the Gulf of St Lawrence this year
has led to a large number of seal pup deaths, the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans said Friday.

Harp seals are probably familiar to most Canadians from images of the
annual seal hunt. The animals need ice on which to give birth and feed
their young. This year's absence of suitable ice means harp seal pups
have been washing up on shore all along the Gulf, in Eastern Canada.
People have been advised not to try to rescue the pups, (les gens ont été avisés de ne pas tenter de sauver les bébés phoques) which can weigh up to 30 kilograms, the department said.

According to the Fisheries Department, this year's predicted die-off
will not affect long-term population levels. Because seals have long
lives and females can have up to 15 pups in their 30- to 40-year
lifespan, the lack of seals reaching maturity this year will not have
a big impact, the department said. Still, DFO said it will be keeping
an eye on ice conditions so it can plan future conservation measure is
needed.

The seal hunt, which runs from November to may, will remain open this
year, but timing and location could change due to the smaller number
of pups.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Seals+dying+lack/2731962/story.html