Pacific Balance Pinniped Society

[IronNoggin]

The new group "PACIFIC BALANCE PINNIPED SOCIETY" is up and running.
For those on Facebook, they have a new page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1864653340315808/?ref=gs&fref=gs&dti=1864653340315808&hc_location=group

Their management plan has been submitted, and early indications suggest support from local DFO.
Coast wide support among FN's, and both recreational and commercial sectors has been very strong.

I suspect these folks will be getting on with their HARVEST (not cull!) programs reasonably soon.

I, for one, wish them All The Best!!

Cheers,
Nog

[Jordan f.]

Any time the local FN's and the local resident hunters/anglers are on the same team.. I'm inclined to believe it's the right move.

[IronNoggin]

PACIFIC BALANCE PINNIPED SOCIETY is glad to announce that we have been given the green light to harvest about 30 seals from Victoria to Campbell River to Fraser River! Basically covering much of the Salish Sea a.k.a. Gulf of Georgia.

Samples of meat, blubber and liver will be taken to be tested by a laboratory to see if meets Canadian Food Inspection Agency standards for human and animal consumption.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/491305800985444/permalink/1918281588287851/

[Jordan f.]

Good on ya!

[303savage]

given the green light to harvest about 30 seals

Wow, that's really going to make a noticable difference.

[wideopenthrottle]

do you need a dogfish to bloodtrail...heheheheh

[IronNoggin]

Wow, that's really going to make a noticable difference.

LOL!
Apologies is this initiative isn't quite moving along as fast as YOU would like... :roll:

This initial sampling is a crucial step in market development.
Before that can proceed any further, contaminant presence and loading must be clearly identified.
30 was determined to be a statistically valid number to represent the whole of the area initially being targeted.
Most samples have already been collected and are under accredited lab analysis now.

Contaminate sampling and monitoring with be conducted along with all future harvests.

Dependent upon results, we can expect these numbers to rise exponentially in the near future.

Cheers,
Nog

[wideopenthrottle]

what are the biggest concerns-mercury and dioxins perhaps? diseases?

[IronNoggin]

what are the biggest concerns-mercury and dioxins perhaps? diseases?

There is an entire host of possibilities.
I don't care to speculate on which may or may not be present until I see the actual raw data.
I will be on the team reviewing that, so you'll know soon after I do.

What I will say is that I expect contaminant levels to be noticeably higher near the cesspool mouth of the Fraser and near improperly treated sewage outlets adjacent to Vic & Van.
And fully expect those levels / presence to decline quite rapidly as the distance increases from those point sources.

Will letcha know as it goes...

Cheers,
Nog

[greasysidedown]

This is a great start. It bring's awareness to the problem. A harvest is needed and if we can get a business plan in place, all the better.