We seem to have an unusually robust local seal population compared to other areas of the coast.
Yes we most certainly do:
"The highest concentration of Harbour Seals in BC is in the Strait of Georgia, which has an average density of 13.1 seals per kilometre of shoreline. In other areas of the BC coast, densities average about 2.6 seals per kilometre"
"The total population of Harbour Seals in British Columbia was estimated in 2008 to be 105,000, of which about 39,000 were found in the Strait of Georgia region"
"Food requirements of individuals vary by age and sex but average 1.9kg per day."
Quotes are all from Marine Mammals of BC, by John K.B. Ford.
So that means that every day the seals in the Strait of Georgia need to consume 163,000lbs of food!!!! That's almost 60 million pounds of seafood over a year. Mind boggling numbers. As if the Fraser river salmon don't have a tough enough time with all the other challenges - imagine you are a fish and have to run through that gauntlet twice before you can successfully reproduce. Time for a good old fashioned cull (like the one in place up until 1964) in my opinion.
Interestingly, BC Aquaculture facilities (another threat to wild salmon) can get a "Nuisance Seal Licence" to shoot seals that are interfering with operations - from 1990 to 2011 approx 6,000 seals were killed at BC Aquaculture facilities.
