Seal Populations

[Swimmer]

Why is that the person Flaptail spoke with cannot say publicly that even before a study is conducted there may be sufficient evidence to come to the conclusuion that the seal population is above what is currently sustainable and the seals have started harming the entire fishery? Certainly if this person said this to Flaptail then thier has to have been some conversation amongst this person's peers about the seals overpopulating different areas where they probably never lived before. I used to hang out on North Beach in the late fifties and early sixties and never saw any. I know my observations are not scientific, and maybe neither are the person who spoke to flaptail, but it certainly is a warning signal that close observations whether it has a scientific basis or not should start.

Its somewhat like the coyote problem. Thier aren't many people who realize that hunting coyote is permitted in Mass. by a chosen few. Maybe this could be handled the same way.

[Pete F.]

And I predict that the only way something will happen is, when Great Whites pick off a few seals in the middle of a beautiful beach day in front of a bunch of vacationers, some of whom have camcorders.

[baldwin]

I don't know where that estimate of 91,000 came from, I read a recent article that estimated the current gray seal population at 7,000 to 10,000. Nonetheless, it seems like there are too many. That's what happens when people upset the balance. We end up with too many of a problem organism, and protect it.

[LeCounts1099]

Way too many Outer- Cape sunrise "blitzes," after skunk nights in the very same spot!... that turn out to be 6- 12 or more seals the size of VW's! That never happened 6-7 years ago (except maybe inside Chatam I.) ... last 2-3 years that's all that seems to happen for me up there, everywhere from Race Pt. to Nauset!

[Offshore]

Karl F got it right (in both posts). There are just too many seals on the outer cape.

And, much as I'd like to see the problem solved in the way the Cape Ann lobstermen took care of it in the 40's and 50's (30/30's in every boat), We can't do anything that will endanger or restrict beach access any more than it is allready.

I think Flaptail has come closer to an answer than any other. I too attended those meetings at Monomoy last Spring and a study is needed by NMFS, but then all the big greens, PETA and the treehuggers will jump on it.

Looks like no easy answer.

[Sweetwater]

I'd like to thank everyone for their "rosey" assessment of the problem (sarcasm).

However, I'm an eternal optimist. I think just about everyone who fishes is an optimist or you'd never put on your waders. In any case, there are only two differences between the PETA types and us.

1. They're nuts and we're not
2. They are much better funded and organized

If we care about this fishery, and wish to preserve for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren and their's; we need to have a voice in this. I'm admittedly a novice on such things. Where do we start?

[Slipknot]

well that just sucks
Now I need an anti-depressant Flaptail
what a bleak outlook


maybe they will all get a disease and die off, wouldn't that be great?