There was such little ice cover on the Bay of Chaleur during winter of 2010-2011 that we saw more seals coming close to the Chaleur shore here in our village of PoInte-Verte. Now that the ice on the shore is melting people are walking along the shore. And so it's not surprising that our friend, Daryl Mary Smith got such a wonderful closeup of this grey seal.
She sent the photo to the experts at the
Shippagan Marine Centre. They identified it as a grey seal. Wikipedia says the grey seal is also called the "Hooked nose sea pig" and I found another name, the horsehead seal. Either pig or horse, grey seals eat a lot. This one is estimated to weigh about 770 pounds, that's 350 kg and measure about 7 feet, over 2 metres.
Our neighbours who fish in the Bay of Chaleur during May to September have lost thousands of dollars of equipment and even more from lost harvest when the seals eat the fish caught in the nets. They report that the population of seals is growing. It seems the seals are smart enough to let the people catch the fish. Then the seals swim up and gobble the best parts. They do leave the fish heads but we people don't eat fish heads either.
When you stay at
Gite Toutes Saisons Bed and Breakfast you can watch the fishing boats on the Bay of Chaleur, walk to the wharf and visit with the crews. In season, even buy some seafood. IF the seals haven't feasted first.
