These conclusions are based on studies that were done by DFO scientists well over a decade ago. The evidence is weak. It's all correlative, and the problem with that is that it doesn't prove anything. Scientifically, it proves no cause and effect at all. It's just very weak. The data are weak to start with, and so on.
I think the main mechanism that's going on here in these ecosystems with the pinnipeds is removing the prey of other species. It's been mentioned about capelin. It's so important in the north Atlantic. The effects of this.... There are studies that have been done in Norway that show very clearly that what happens with capelin is going to affect what happens with seals and what happens with cod. That's probably the main mechanism at work here, but the evidence that DFO is basing this on is very weak.