Block Seals

[dickd]

It’s evident the seals are doing a great job of propagating their species. Yet whenever a seal is rehabbed at Mystic Aquarium, it’s released in RI. Should we say thank you?

[mikez2]

On 2/15/2023 at 4:33 PM, DZ said:

I’m hoping for some sort of seal “flu” to help trim the herds. 

 

You might be getting what you hope for.

Here's a map of the highly contagious version of bird flu from the past two years. Check out the locations of the blue triangles that represent wild mammals. None for Ma or RI yet. But the seals move around alot.

Of course the old adage "be careful what you wish for" applies here. If it can jump from birds to seals, it might not stop there.

 

From NOAA;

 

"Testing of samples has found some harbor and gray seals positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, which is a zoonotic disease that has the potential to spread between animals and people (and their pets"

 

 

 

[clammer]

   I really dislike them ..they are gonna really F5^& up   THEY ARE EVERYWHERE       ,, as for the bay .......we have had them  for over  40 years .each year there are more of the them an stay longer  . they are in the bay by sept  & some still around  in May .

 someone posted a photo on face book  today of seals at Rocky Point ....  passing Rocky point was almost a daily  ride when I was digging  ,  never seen so many there ........  a lot of other places in the bay  with too many seal  to count  &  its scary how many places with a few to count .  The two inside the   H /B   have been  up river for around  25+ years ><>

 OTW  has a 1/2 show every Sunday .on TV ...... sadly  I watched the beaches 

 of Nantucket  ...... the angler  fighting albies & seal s  ..  most of the time both .. fish losing  bits an pieces  , angler  / albie/   plugs  ...........    somehow someone has to put a limit or stop   the seals & commerants  .............. as DEM , Save the bay , and all that try an clean the water .................soon our bay will be going backwoods   in water quality   then   like the Cape . Polluted   .. then the wackos    that will come   to see & swim ><             More than   F/U

 

[Hill]

Anybody have the historic context of why MA and ME paid bounties to take out the 'nuisance'? Was it always just because they interfered with fishing or other reasons?

 

Out of curiosity, do the Native American tribes have recognized rights/traditions of taking them?

[Marone Pursuit]

On 2/17/2023 at 11:43 AM, mikez2 said:

You might be getting what you hope for.

Here's a map of the highly contagious version of bird flu from the past two years. Check out the locations of the blue triangles that represent wild mammals. None for Ma or RI yet. But the seals move around alot.

Of course the old adage "be careful what you wish for" applies here. If it can jump from birds to seals, it might not stop there.

 

From NOAA;

 

"Testing of samples has found some harbor and gray seals positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, which is a zoonotic disease that has the potential to spread between animals and people (and their pets"

 

 

 

Careful what you wish for indeed, some of those mammals were not to far north from here....If were going to hope for a virus, let it be pinniped specific with no history of cross species transmission.

 

Scary thing is that colony numbers continuing to grow so the population hasn't even hit its carrying capacity..

 

Not well versed on the topic but curious what the discussion surrounding population control is focused on...Cull and Kill seem to be choice 1 and 2 but I cant imagine that would work long term.  Nature has a way of filling the gaps, one way or another.  A new pod traveling down from Sable Island would slide right into the niche and thrive.

[mikez2]

50 mins ago, Marone Pursuit said:

Careful what you wish for indeed, some of those mammals were not to far north from here....If were going to hope for a virus, let it be pinniped specific with no history of cross species transmission.

 

Scary thing is that colony numbers continuing to grow so the population hasn't even hit its carrying capacity..

 

Not well versed on the topic but curious what the discussion surrounding population control is focused on...Cull and Kill seem to be choice 1 and 2 but I cant imagine that would work long term.  Nature has a way of filling the gaps, one way or another.  A new pod traveling down from Sable Island would slide right into the niche and thrive.

I think your last sentence summed it up.

Kinda like coyotes. You knock out one pack, two new packs fill the void. 

It's unlikely there's enough political will to overcome the public outcry that would be attached to a cull. Especially since the numbers needed to be culled would be huge to make a difference. 

[Hill]

22 mins ago, mikez2 said:

I think your last sentence summed it up.

Kinda like coyotes. You knock out one pack, two new packs fill the void. 

It's unlikely there's enough political will to overcome the public outcry that would be attached to a cull. Especially since the numbers needed to be culled would be huge to make a difference. 

Did a little reading on the subject the other day--for gray seals specifically, their repopulation was slowed in if I remember correctly 1988 and 2002 by virus outbreaks. So perhaps another will be in store.

 

As I understand it, based on genetic testing, the whole mass of gray seals in the NW atlantic can be considered as a single breeding population, such is their range and willingness to intersperse.

[pogie_boy]

On 2/19/2023 at 9:56 AM, Hill said:

 

 

Out of curiosity, do the Native American tribes have recognized rights/traditions of taking them?

i did read a section of the MMPA the other day and yes, they have the right to take marine mammals for sustenenance, clothing and ritual purposes.  They can also sell the meat and hides but only to other native peoples.

[clambellies]

As a former longtime Outer Cape fisherman, all I can say is "Welcome to my world."  

[Quonnie]

You can thank The Mystic Aquarium for reintroducing the seals back to RI

they release young one at East Beach in Charlestown every couple of months 

[Quonnie]

A huge part of the problem 

the Fing Aquarium did not post this release until after the fact

 

Charlestown, R.I. ― Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Team released Kiwi, a 3-month-old female gray seal, into the wild at Blue Shutters Beach Thursday.

[BeachBum818]

On 2/15/2023 at 4:33 PM, DZ said:

It’s depressing for surfcasting for sure.  Completely changed how I approach the island north of the salt pond. 
I’m hoping for some sort of seal “flu” to help trim the herds. 

 

It's happening right now. As what happens with any population that is overcrowded....

[Hill]

1 hour ago, BeachBum818 said:

It's happening right now. As what happens with any population that is overcrowded....

Another thing to be aware of, and take reasonable measures to protect yourself from, in addition to tick borne diseases.

[DZ]

2 hours ago, BeachBum818 said:

It's happening right now. As what happens with any population that is overcrowded....

Hopefully man will not interfere and let nature take its course. 

[Quonnie]

The arrogance of The Aquarium is what gets me 

They could take these vermin back where they came from and release them or release them in CT waters but they come into RI 

I would what RISAA says about this or the Commercial fishing industry or DEM

What right does The Aquarium have to release the seals on our beaches