St. Lawrence Estuary harbour seal action plan

Harbour seals have become rare in the St. Lawrence Estuary. While this species populates the waters of the Northwest Atlantic and the Arctic, the St. Lawrence Estuary herd is fragile. As with the beluga whale, harbour seals are few and heavily contaminated. Yet, contrary to the beluga whale, so little is known about the harbour seal that it is impossible to designate a particular status for this species.

Despite this, stakeholders preoccupied by the situation of the harbour seal in the Estuary have begun to take action. Those concerned were invited to a meeting organized by the Réseau d’observation des mammifères marins (ROMM, marine mammal observation network) to consolidate information concerning the herd. In March of 2004 they published the Plan d’action sur le phoque commun de l’estuaire du Saint-Laurent (St. Lawrence Estuary harbour seal action plan), in which they identified threats to the Estuary’s harbour seal herd. The action plan also lists recommendations and measures for its conservation.

The lack of information concerning this species constitutes the main threat. Harbour seals have been accused (in the same manner as other, more abundant seal species) of being a threat to fish stocks. Also, curious passers-by sometimes approach their haulout sites or, well intentioned, they may manipulate “abandoned” pups that are in fact simply quietly awaiting the return of their mothers. Pollution and coastal development, disease, accidental and intentional hunting and ship strikes are the other potential threats listed by participants.

Of the numerous strategies put forward in the action plan, public education with respect to the situation of the harbour seal in the Estuary was listed as the chief priority by those present at the meeting. They also recommended that stakeholders favour the exchange of information and the harmonization of conservation efforts.

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Site du ROMM (in French only)

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