Mr. Speaker, it is common knowledge that Canada's east coast fishery is in trouble. The resident population of some six million to seven million seals, each destroying a tonne of fish annually, clearly contributes significantly to this problem. The annual commercial harvest of 350,000 animals is a balanced approach.
Not common knowledge is that the west coast has a similar problem. Salmon populations have been significantly reduced by huge seal populations.
I believe that a seal hunt on a commercial basis will introduce a badly needed new economy on the B.C. coast and will also aid in the revival of healthy returns on salmon and trout.
I would like to encourage the minister to seriously consider establishing a commercial seal hunt on the west coast of Canada.