No longer worth it, some sealers say
(apr. 12, 2008)
st. john's telegram

Heavy ice, costs. Activists rejoice as many boats remain ashore

Heavy ice, high fuel costs and low pelt prices are keeping some sealers ashore today as the annual seal hunt begins off Newfoundland.

In any other year, Greg Winslow would be 160 kilometres offshore looking for seals. But this year, his boat is staying tied up. The sealing industry just isn't viable anymore, Winslow said. "The situation is such that no one has any heart for it."

The bad news for sealers like Winslow was applauded by the Humane Society of the United States.

"Our efforts to close markets around the world are clearly having an impact," spokesperson Rebecca Aldworth said on the group's website.

"Sealers are saying it may not be worth their while to take their boats out into the treacherous ice floes. ... We can only hope that the trend so far this year will continue, and that some of the baby seals will be spared a horrible fate."

This is the first time in five years Winslow is not taking part in the hunt, which started in the Gulf of St. Lawrence yesterday and on the Front, off eastern Newfoundland, today.

He estimated it would cost $9,000 in fuel to reach the seals, reported to be 100 to 200 kilometres off St. John's, plus the cost of ammunition, groceries and wages for his crew.

"Three years ago, we got $107 (per pelt)," he said. "Right now, we're talking $31. ... We can't even think about it."

Winslow said he'd need to see prices around $75 a pelt to cover his costs and make some money.

Mike Symmonds was at home in Conche, on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula, wishing he was hunting seals. The 60-year-old fisherman started hunting the animals when he was 15. He said this is the first year he can recall choosing to stay home.

"It makes you feel terrible when you can't get out there, but there's no point when you can't make the dollar," he said.

He added that most of the boats in the community were also staying put.

"We went out (in the past) when (pelts) were $7, $8, $10. But not with the price of fuel where it's at today. That's the big thing."

But not all hunters have decided to forgo the seal hunt.

Gus Sacrey of Paquet, on the Baie Verte Peninsula, was already on his boat, the Brittany and Ryan, heading toward the seals yesterday. He said he considered the economic pressures before leaving port, but decided to take the gamble.

"Well, we thought about it, but we're always hoping for a better price when we get in," he said.

And with fewer sealers taking part, he's hoping he'll get a greater share of the pelts.

Sealers will be looking to kill 51,000 seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and 194,000 off northeastern Newfoundland.