Deep dive into the facts & figures
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Sustainability & Ecosystem
The annual seal harvest contributes to marine biodiversity protection.
A small sample of the over 7.6 Million Harp Seals
This video shows a small sample of the estimated 7.6 million harp seals of the Northwest Atlantic. The footage was taken in April 2022 off the Northeast Coast of Newfoundland, just south of the Horse Islands, NL, Canada.
Sustainability & Ecosystem Balance
Canada’s fish stocks are declining, and our commercially important fisheries are under pressure as a result. Losing these vital ocean resources doesn’t just affect our coastal communities. It affects every Canadian.
Seals eat a lot of fish – roughly 30 million tonnes each year. That’s 53x more than our entire Atlantic fishing fleet catches.Several studies have indicated the amount of fish eaten by harp seals. A study of harp seals by Polar Research estimated 7.4 kg/day for adult males and 9 kg/day for adult females, with females consuming more to support pregnancy and lactation: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3402/polar.v10i2.6771. Assuming the population is half male and half female, that means an average seal eats 2.99 tons/year. In 2019, the grand total of the Atlantic Coast commercial landings were 560,484 metric tonnes. https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/commercial/land-debarq/sea-maritimes/s2019aq-eng.htm Canada’s total seal population is estimated at more than 10 million. Ringed seal populations is estimated at 2.3 million: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessments-status-reports/ringed-seal-2019.html Together with Harp Seal (7.6 million) and grey seals (505,000), this represents over 10M population for these 3 species. This means that the total Canadian seal population eats roughly 30 million tons of fish each year. That’s 53x more fish than the entire Canadian Atlantic fishing fleet catches! Facts: Ringed seal populations is estimated at 2.3 million: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessments-status-reports/ringed-seal-2019.html Together with Harp Seal (7.6 million) and grey seals (505,000), this represents over 10M population for these 3 species. Calculation: (7.4+9)/2 = average of 8.2KG per seal. 8.2*365 days per year = 2,993KG. 2,993KG x 10 million seals = 29,930,000,000. 29,930,000,000 (total KG of fish eaten by seals)/ 560,000,000 (harvested by the Atlantic fishing fleet) = 53 times.Meanwhile, seal populations are at the highest level on record. Controlling seal populations is one of the ways we can help fish stocks rebound. And in turn, we’ll be supporting our fisheries and ocean economy, which create 350,000 jobs and bring in over $31B each year.Government of Canada. Blue Economy Strategy. 2021 https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/campaign-campagne/bes-seb/index-eng.html
Abundant Populations
The latest estimates for seal populations found in Canada:
- Harp seal: 7.6 millionFisheries and Oceans Canada. Science Advisory Report 2020. 2019 Status of Northwest Atlantic Harp Seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus. 2020-03-26 https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/SAR-AS/2020/2020_020-eng.html
- Grey seal: 505,000Stock Assessment of Canadian Grey Seals. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/SAR-AS/2014/2014_010-eng.html
- Hooded seal: 593,000A Discussion of the Precautionary Approach and its Application to Atlantic Seals M.O. Hammill1 and G.B. Stenson. June 2013. https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/349398.pdfSeal Range State Policy and Management Review. D.H.M Cumming. ICUN. 2015. https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-055.pdf
- Ringed seal: 1.5 millionRinged seals estimated size of the population is 2.3 million in Canada and adjacent waters (West Greenland, Alaska and Russia) Note, there is low confidence in this estimate. (Finley et al. 1983; Smith 1975; Frost et al. 2004; Bengtson et al. 2005)
- Harbour seals: 100,000 British Columbia & 25,000 Atlantic CanadaAre There Too Many Harbor Seals in British Columbia? Brad Badel. Sept. 2018. https://hakaimagazine.com/news/are-there-too-many-harbor-seals-in-british-columbia/POPULATION ASSESSMENT PACIFIC HARBOUR SEAL (PHOCA VITULINA RICHARDSI). Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Government of Canada. January 2010. https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/338997.pdf Harbour Seal. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Government of Canada. https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/profiles-profils/harbour-seal-phoque-commun-eng.html
Total Allowable Catch 2020
- Harp seals: 400,000Total Allowable Catch (TAC) numbers are set by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and announced every March, prior to the opening of the season. Harp seal Total Allowable Capture: Current Status of Northwest Atlantic Harp Seals. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, P.10, 2012. https://polarbearscience.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/2019-harp-seal-status_dfo-2020_march-020-eng.pdf
- Grey seal: 60,000Grey seal quota: “Portrait-diagnostic sectoriel de l’industrie québécoise du phoque », p. 3. http://www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/phoque
Total Allowable Catch for Harp Seals
One of the more prominent seal species found in Canadian waters is the harp seal, with a population that’s grown nearly 60% to 7.6 million since 1994. In 2020, the Government of Canada’s total allowable catch limit for the harp was only 5% of its population. And in recent years, the total number of catches only reached 10% – a fraction of that annual quota.
At the highest we’ve ever seen
Seal populations are at the highest we’ve ever seen! Out of the 33 species of seal found worldwide, 6 of them can be found in Canada, and none are endangered.13 In fact, Canada’s total seal population is estimated at more than ten million, the largest number ever observed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.14
Quick Facts
In recent years, the Total Allowable Catches determined by scientists and set by the Canadian Government have not been fulfilled, primarily due to the loss of local and international markets for seal products.
10 MILLION
Estimated size of the Harp, Grey and Ringed seal herd off Atlantic Canada
460,000
Harp seal and grey seal Total Allowable Catches for the 2020 hunt.
< 10%
The percentage of the 460,000 seal quota that was harvested in 2019.In 2019 a total of 32,199 harps seals and 1,232 Grey seals were harvested. Fisheries and Oceans Canada Report.
Overabundant Populations
- The harp seal population is estimated at over 7.6 Million.Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Science Advisory Report 2020. 2019 Status of Northwest Atlantic Harp Seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus. 2020-03-26 https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/SAR-AS/2020/2020_020-eng.htmlDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans. 2011-2015 Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Atlantic Seals, https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/seals-phoques/reports-rapports/mgtplan-planges20112015/mgtplan-planges20112015-eng.html?fbclid=IwAR3medPObFwPJeyQl7UCxYwyB78_uCloPCkuw3mAGofR-5b7qO1JJ0UmzJo
- The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans estimates the average adult seal eats 1.5-2 tons of fish per year.The Sustainable Management of Grey Seal Populations: A Path Toward the Recovery if Cod and Other Groundfish Stocks, Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, Oct. 2012 http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/411/pofo/rep/rep07oct12-e.pdf
- A study by Polar Research estimated an even bigger number of 2.99 tons/year.The Polar Research estimated 7.4 kg/day for adult males and 9 kg/day for adult females, with females consuming more to support pregnancy and lactation. Assuming the population is half male and half female, that means an average seal eats 2.99 tons/year. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3402/polar.v10i2.6771
- This equates to millions of tons of fish and seafood consumed by seals each year.
Benefits to the Fishing Industry
The Canadian seal population eats over 53 times more fish than the entire Atlantic Canadian fishing fleet’s annual seafood harvest.Several studies have indicated the amount of fish eaten by harp seals. A study of harp seals by Polar Research estimated 7.4 kg/day for adult males and 9 kg/day for adult females, with females consuming more to support pregnancy and lactation. Assuming the population is half male and half female, that means an average seal eats 2.99 tons/year. LINKFacts: Ringed seal populations is estimated at 2.3 million. Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida): COSEWIC assessment and status report 2019. LINK Together with Harp Seal (7.6 million) LINK and grey seals (424,300) LINK, this represents over 10M population for these 3 species. Calculation: (7.4+9)/2 = average of 8.2KG per seal. 8.2*365 days per year = 2,993KG. 2,993KG x 10 million seals = 29,930,000,000. 29,930,000,000 (total KG of fish eaten by seals)/ 560,000,000 (harvested by the Atlantic fishing fleet) = 53 times.
The 2019 hunt alone saved our fishery $250 million in fish resources that would otherwise be consumed by seals.Approximately 32,000 harp seals were harvest in 2019. It is estimated that seals eat over 1.5 tons of fish per year. The value per tons of fish was at $5,200 in 2018. Source: 32,000 seals x 1.5 tons x $5,200 = $CAD 250 MILLION.
If the full quota was harvested, that value would be CAD$3.12 Billion.The annual quota is 400,0000 for harp seals. It is estimated that seals eat over 1.5 tons of fish per year. The value per tons of fish was at $5,200 in 2018. Source 400,000 seals x 1.5 tons x $5,200 = $CAD 3.12 BILLION.
Smarter Seafood Certified
Harp and Grey seals are part of the LIST of the 41 marine species that are valued by “Smarter Seafood” eco-guide, created to enable the sustainable development of the St. Lawrence.
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Seal Stats
- None of Canada’s seal species are endangered.
- Seal populations have grown to the largest number ever observed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
- DFO estimated the harp seal population in Newfoundland and Labrador has grown from 4,800,000 to 7,600,000 – an increase of nearly 60%.
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Download our brochure
We bring together Canada’s sealing industry harvesters, processors, manufacturers, retailers and Indigenous peoples of Canada to promote and market high quality and sustainable Canadian Seal Products. You can learn more about our mission and the industry in our brochure.
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Also
Culture & Livelihood
Sealing is a vital activity for ten of thousands of rural Canadians throughout the country. Seal hunt sustains northern and coastal communities nutritionally, culturally and economically.
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Humane & Professional
Canada’s world-leading animal welfare standards, codes of practice, training and licensing programs ensure human harvesting and the highest quality products.
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Many national and international conservation organizations have established that seal populations in Canada are healthy and abundant.
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