Canada advised to be cautious around seals

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has advised the public along the shores to be cautious.

The government of Canada wishes to remind people along the shores to be alert around seals because at this time every year, pregnant harp seals pull themselves out of the waters of Atlantic Canada to give birth to pups. The release of the government alaos states that the pubs are born on ice floes in the Northumberland Strait and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. As the ice drifts out of the Gulf, the seals travel on it and can end up in the Laurentian Channel and off Eastern Cape Breton.

According to Fisheries and Oceans the ice conditions are expected to be poor this year and so the juvenile harp seals are expected to be found onshore along the Gulf shore of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as on Prince Edward Island. Since seals are wild animal they should be left alone. The release further said these seals, if cornered or if they believe that they are being threatened, may respond by attacking. Their bites can be serious, requiring medical attention such as antibiotics and stitches.

The press release also states that the poor ice conditions may lead to numbers of these young seals perishing after they end up in the water prematurely, or are crushed by ice. As a result, people in coastal areas may encounter dead seal pups along the shore throughout the Atlantic region. So for this reason the government the people along the shores should be exercise caution.

Source: dfo-mpo.gc.ca/"

WorldFishingToday d. 14-03-2011