In conclusion, I would say that the Quebec fishing industry remains very concerned and very worried about the excessive predation of cod fish by the seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and as a result, of the absence of any signs of recovery of the groundfish stocks.
Within the current context, we cannot understand the attitude of the Canadian government regarding the management of the seal herd. The under-harvesting of this species has very serious consequences for fishery resources and Maritime communities. There is no longer any doubt about the imbalance in the ecosystem in favour of the seals. Whereas most animal species that have a high commercial potential are hunted by humans, seal continue to receive unjustified protection. The overpopulation of seals has taken a considerable toll on several fish stocks. If this trend continues, other species will also be affected and, obviously, the people who depend economically on these species will have difficulty coping with the consequences.
The situation is critical and requires major intervention and concrete action immediately by the federal government. Current management approaches have contributed to the imbalance I have just described.
Finally, we recommend, from the perspective of sustainable development, that there be a level of harvesting that targets the seals more, and a quota that is more representative of the socioeconomic situation and dynamic of the seal hunt in the Magdalen Islands.
Thank you.