Seal Populations

[Sweetwater]

In the most recent “On The Water,” there was a comment by Pops (Ask Pops) that the increased presence of “worms” in cod (and I found quite a few this season) is due in part to the greater presence of seals. Evidently, this parasite’s lifecycle includes some stage of its life in seals (many parasites require multiple hosts to complete their lifecycles).

Seals have become an increasing problem in the north Cape Cod area. Recently, beaches in Chatham had to be closed due to high levels of fecal chloroform from gray and harbor seals. This is a dangerous bacterium that affects the intestines. While normally associated with human waste and untreated sewerage, the seal population has grown so large that they are posing real risks to humans and other animals.

I, and several others I know, have had many bass taken off my line (both from beach and boat) this year, by seals who wait for a fish to be hooked, then take the struggling fish. I’ve even had them follow behind my boat between my trolled lines.

NMFS has determined the minimum population to be 91,546 individual animals. Gray seals on Muskeget Island (off Nantucket) and Monomoy Island (off Chatham) grew by an estimated 20.5 percent annually between 1994 and 1999. My guess is that between 1999 and 2005 the rate of population increase has been at least as much again, if not greater.

My personal feeling is that it is time that the gray seal population be better managed for health reasons, quality of the fishery, and potential damage to (occupation of) key seabird breeding grounds (used by piping plovers and others).

Anyone have any ideas as to how we recreational fisherman (and concerned conservationists) can provide input about concerns about this growing problem?

[Karl F]

A Marine Biologist told me the cod have taken to dining on seal poo, .... that is where they are getting the increase in worms (parasite) from... have NOT eaten cod since, BTW.

The cod have been in a decline for years, as have the forage they were accustomed to eating. Seal management, (bring back the bounty!) would go a long way ion helping the cod, the bait, and a lot of other species, flounder, fluke, sand dabs, sand eels, and, oh yeah Stripers!, just to name a few.

I would bet it will never happen, the Feelgooders, PETA, etc, would use the cute pictures of seal pups sunning on Monomoy as the poster children to "Save the Seals".......

[vineyardblues]

Karl, just do it !

stealth man

vb

[Swimmer]

Seals repopulated the area because of the Boston harba cleanup and now thier destroying there own habitat. Do I hear a motion for a Seal H&%**T uuurrrr I meant sea hunt.

[gone fishin]

It is interesting to note that I have observed quite a few seals dead on the beach at PI. They all seemed to have a mysterious hole in their head. I would venture a guess that they were raiding lobster traps or pehaps sport fishing?

[jim sylvester]

could be directly related to the increase of shark sightings in the area!!!!!!!!

[afterhours]

$5 a nose.

[BigFish]

At least the previlence of guns is contributing some good to the reduction in seal population!

[Karl F]

Don't Shoot 'em on ORV access beaches... 2-3 years ago they found a few shot on my beach... there was much discussion that if many more were found shot, they'd pull the plug, close it down, and lock the gate.

Access folks, never lose site of that. Please!
We have lost waaaaay too much already.

[Sweetwater]

I strongly agree with Karl! Don't take any hasty actions on the beaches. They're just looking for a reason to shut us out. But we can lobby the powers that be to understand and take into account how the seals are impacting the coastal areas and fisheries.

There is a huge economic toll to be paid in those coastal areas if the seals drive away tourists (because they can't swim in the ocean) and fishermen.

However, just like I fear that wildlife management will not look at how the raccoons, skunks, crows, fox, and coyotes are devestating the piping plovers attempt to recover; they will refuse to see how the seals are negatively impacting the area, and will choose to blame humans for every problem they see.

[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.

[Karl F]

Well Sweetwater... looks like this thread has been hit with the dreaded SB hijack curse...

Sorry we can't give you the direction you asked for...
I have no clue where to start, I'm of an age where I pick my battles carefully, and this one is a toughy.
I hope you find an avenue, and keep us advised.

One of BBJ's post, (I think), made me think of a DVD I watched New Years, a friend burnt all of his old home beach and fishing movie highlights onto one, and shared it with me.
One vignet, his buddy has a fish on, daylight.. seal comes in like jaws behind it, and strips it off his hook. A seagull that was following the fish in, swoops in and trys to steal it from the seal. Now, here is where it gets interesting.... the seal, instead of making off with his lunch, now enters into a game, of toying with the seagull, this goes on for a good ten minutes. Sounds, then surfaces, taunts the gull with the fish, at one point drops the fish, and takes a nip at the gull.
The seal finally tired of this, grabs the fish, so that it is long ways in his mouth, stands up high on his tail to show the guys on the beach, he still has their fish, shakes his head at the still hovering gull, and finally sounds and swims off.
They have become very bold, and coy... Sea-Rats.
I cannot wait for the Great Whites to become as bold.