Many believe that grey seals are the main reason behind the failure of cod stocks to thrive. But the true threats to cod are all caused by people and include directed fishing, bycatch in other fisheries, fishing-induced changes to the marine ecosystem, and the impacts of offshore oil exploration. Attempts to scapegoat seals for fisheries woes are a disservice to the industry, coastal communities and the public.
Brian Tobin, former fisheries minister, told that the failure of cod stocks to rebuild is when you fish a species to commercial extinction, it may never recover. Simply put, major structural changes in the ecosystem have unanticipated and long-term consequences.
As per a research report the eradication of cod allowed stocks of smaller fish predators to expand. These smaller fish competed with cod while consuming juvenile cod, and their proliferation prevented cod stocks from increasing. Those smaller fish populations have started to level off in the Scotian Shelf area, allowing a small recovery of cod stocks. The Scotian Shelf are is highly concentration of grey seals. Discussion of a grey seal cull is not backed by any credible science and is opposed by the most respected marine scientists on Canada’s East Coast. The research report says that culling of grey seals could wipe out the remaining cod stocks.
