Proceedings 2010/054
Zonal Advisory Process on the Impacts of Grey Seals on Fish Populations in Eastern Canada; October 4-8, 2010
Chairperson: Mike Chadwick
Summary
In the event that there will be a targeted removal of grey seals, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (FAM) asked Science to answer the following questions:
How many grey seals would have to be removed over five years to measurably lower natural mortality on southern Gulf cod and other cod stocks that are experiencing high natural mortality? What might be the ecosystem responses (e.g. abundance of other predators and prey) to grey seal targeted removal, particularly as it may impact cod recovery?
A number of working papers were to be considered at this science advisory process covering the following themes:
- Direct evidence for cod consumption by grey seals;
- Indirect evidence for cod consumption by grey seals;
- Minimum decrease in natural mortality to restore cod populations to reference levels;
- Changes in grey seal abundance, distribution and ecology;
- Grey seals reduction scenarios to restore cod populations;
- Examples of control of large marine predators in other parts of the world; and
- Design of a controlled experiment to test impact of grey seal population control on the mortality of southern Gulf cod.
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