RECOMMENDATION 1 (Seal Population Management Strategy)

The committee strongly recommends that the Government of Canada urgently develop and implement an effective and sustainable seal population management strategy, as soon as is practicable or no later six months from the date of tabling of this report.

This strategy must be prepared in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and take into consideration:

1. the fact that various seal species are found on the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific Coasts;
2. the fact that seals are part of complex ecosystems;
3. the impacts of climate change on seals and the ecosystems they inhabit; and
4. the social, economic, and cultural importance of the seal industry.

RECOMMENDATION 2 (Marine and Fisheries Research Capacity) 

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada rapidly develop and implement a more robust and state-of-the-art marine and fisheries research capacity, by using both currently available and up-to-date modern research methods and emerging technologies, and by acquiring and establishing additional ocean-specific research infrastructure, such as dedicated research vessels. This must include the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge to enhance research capacity. Furthermore, these research capacity-building activities must be developed in collaboration with Indigenous governments and organizations, communities, seal industry members, the academic community, international experts, private sector organizations, and other stakeholders.

RECOMMENDATION 3 (Increasing Seal Science and Research Collaboration)

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada encourage, foster, and support greater science and research collaboration concerning seal populations, their diets, and their distribution. This must be conducted together with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments, academics, international experts, seal harvesters, commercial fishers, local communities, private sector organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, and where possible, must utilize existing modern research capacity. As part of this work, the Government of Canada must also ensure that resulting data and research outcomes are shared appropriately, which could be done by way of a user-friendly database designed to meet the information needs of researchers and stakeholders.

RECOMMENDATION 4 (Modifications to the Income Tax Act)

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada urgently review and amend the Income Tax Act and all other related acts, as needed, to ensure that registered Canadian charities and non-profit organizations that produce or promote misinformation and/or disinformation about the seal harvest or seal products industry have their tax-exempt status revoked. 

In addition, the committee recommends that the Government of Canada amend the Income Tax Act to require registered Canadian charities and non-profit organizations to fill out information returns about donors, similar to those that are prescribed for registered journalism organizations in section 149.1(14.1) of the Act, which includes a public information return for the year in the prescribed form that lists each donor whose total gifts to the organization in the year exceed $5,000.

RECOMMENDATION 5 (National Educational Campaign) 

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada develop, in collaboration with Indigenous governments and organizations, local communities, and seal industry members, a national educational campaign regarding Canada’s seal populations, seal harvest, and seal products industry. The educational campaign should be informed by educational materials currently available and be completed and ready to launch within one year of the tabling of this report. This educational campaign material and its implementation plan shall be shared with the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans upon its completion.

RECOMMENDATION 6 (Anti-misinformation/Anti-disinformation Campaign)

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada, in collaboration with key stakeholders, create and disseminate an effective anti-misinformation/anti-disinformation campaign related to the Canadian seal harvest and seal products industry. Work on this campaign must begin immediately and it is essential that it be a whole-of-government initiative, led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

RECOMMENDATION 7 (Increasing the Seal Harvest)

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada immediately take steps to ensure that commercial sealing is economically viable for harvesters, which will help grow the seal products industry so that it can achieve the commercial total allowable catches set by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Marine and fisheries research and a sustainable seal population management strategy will help ensure that the commercial harvest remains sustainable and is adjusted when necessary. In addition, to expand Canada's seal products industry and to open new domestic and international markets, the Government of Canada must be willing to take actions, such as implement regulatory changes and invest in innovative product development, national marketing campaigns, and an effective anti-misinformation/anti-disinformation campaign.

RECOMMENDATION 8 (Seal Studies Centre of Excellence)

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada immediately begin to establish a seal studies centre of excellence that includes Indigenous organizations, academic institutions, and other relevant stakeholders as partners, and is supported by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

RECOMMENDATION 9 (International Market Development) 

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada, in collaboration with key stakeholders, urgently develop and implement a domestic and international campaign to promote traditional and innovative Canadian seal products and to work towards the removal of trade barriers and the development of new markets. Work on this campaign must begin immediately and it is essential that it be a whole-of-government initiative, led by Global Affairs Canada.

Senators Brian Francis, Bev Busson, Réjean Aucoin and Fabian Manning show copies of the Senate committee on Fisheries and Oceans’ report called “Sealing the Future: A Call to Action”.

At a press conference for a new report by the Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, committee chair Senator Fabian Manning speaks about Canada's seal industry as senators Brian Francis, Bev Busson and Réjean Aucoin look on.

Senator Fabian Manning, Chair of the Senate committee on Fisheries and Oceans, answers journalists’ questions during a press conference to present its latest report on Canada’s seal populations.

Senator Bev Busson, Deputy Chair of the Senate committee on Fisheries and Oceans, discusses the committee’s report on Canada’s seal populations during a press conference.