Conference wahoo::fishing

    
    
    	Would the seals stay around if there was no food?  Do seals
    	eat anything else that might be down there?

    There is some evidence, perhaps very strong evidence, in the Atlantic
    off Newfoundland that the severe cutback of the annual Spring seal
    hunt on the ice-flows several years ago has given rise to a large
    increase in the seal population. There are some Scientists who claim
    they can prove this is connected to a large fall-off in the fish 
    population all over the East Coast.
    
    There is no doubt in the minds of those who have been fishing these
    waters for several generations, that this is in fact a significant 
    cause.

    A fisherman in Nova Scotia told me that the seals' feces carry the
    eggs of those small worms we find in cod.  Most fishermen up there
    won't fish or eat the cod for that reason.  It was suggested the
    problem had gotten worse with the increase in the seal population.
    Don't know how much truth there is in the story!

 re: seal feces and cod worms

 That's the truth.

 The Doctah

    
    
    
    Here in the Northwest there is a very real debate on what to do about
    Sea Lions who hang around the mouths of rivers and decimate the
    steelhead and salmon runs.  In 1983 the steelhead count coming into
    Lake Washington was in excess of 8000 fish.  In 1985 California Sea
    lions showed up.  The count has steadily declined until now it is down
    to less than 800 fish!
    
    Humans, unfortunately, caused this problem by creating Marinas and
    Locks and Boat channels etc., that funnel and concentrate the migrating
    fish such that the Sea Lions are able to catch fish they otherwise
    would not be able to.
    
    It is quite a [sad] sight to visit the locks any summer day and watch
    the Sea Lions catch and kill (but not eat) the salmon and steelhead. 
    The fisherman (commercial and sport) and the state department of
    wildlife are for killing, or otherwise removing the Sea Lions.  The
    environmental groups recognize that we have a disaster in the making
    but are not willing to allow the state to harm the sea lions.
    
    In the course of this debate, some good science has been done on the
    feeding habits of Sea Lions and their lesser cousins, the seals. 
    Here's the scoop on harbor seals, a seal common to both the east and
    west coasts and, undoubtedly the species you see hauled out on the
    rocks along the Coast of Maine.
    
    Seals eat principally bottom fish (starry flounder, sculpins, pile
    perch) and crustaceans (especially shrimp and crab).  They are
    opportunistic and will take Salmon and Cod when the opportunity
    presents.  But studies here in Puget Sound strongly indicate that they
    have little effect on pelagic fish.  Sea Lions are gluttons - entirely
    indiscriminate in their habits and will eat anything that is easy to
    catch.  They are also very, very intelligent and *learn* where the fish
    are concentrated.
    
    To the extent that these studies are applicable to east coast seals, I
    would guess that predation by seals has little effect on the fish
    population.  Without going into details of the population dynamices
    involved, that's the conclusion by the studies here in Puget Sound.
    
    A more profound effect is probably at work in that these seals may be
    vector for a variety of fish parasites which was mentioned in the two
    previous replies.
    
    Mike
    

    One of the big problems up here in Maine is the Commorande (sp?).
    
    It is a black bird, ducklike, that eats LOTS of little fish. The
    commorande, it has been proved by state game officials, can
    dessimate a brood of fish in no time at all. 
    
    I have seen perhaps 30 or 40 dive into a recently released batch
    of fish hatchery Salmon Parr or Smolts and eat a very large portion
    of these fish. Add the normal mortality rate, and you've developed
    quite a problem.
    
    PS. The commorande is not a protected species, but environmentalists
    want it protected no matter what. They do however make great practice
    for duck hunting as they are about the same size and speed as a duck.
    
    I have seen seals eating bluefish in the Kennebec in Bath. I agree
    with a statement made about sea lions, and apply it to our seals.
    They eat anything they can catch.
    
    Jim
    

>    One of the big problems up here in Maine is the Commorande (sp?).

 Yeah, cormorants. They are like a salt water loon. Excellent swimmers, they
prey on small fish (the same thing game fish like to eat, as well as young
game fish themselves.)

 The Doctah