Over the weekend a colourful rainbow of a few thousand people visited the waters edge of Melmerby Beach, all eager to get a closer look at these aquatic curiosities-female grey seals with their new born pups. As this area is designated as a provincial park-the access by ATV''s was limited and some dog owners mistakenly forgot to leave their beloved pets at home. Despite all the excitement generated by these marine mammals, surprisingly few incidences were reported. During our visit we saw no (DFO) conservation individuals on site and only one police officer in a control car...

The following images are just a few of the pups born on Melmerby Beach this year....the primordial sea's is where all life first began - it is somewhat reassuring to witness, that even with today's continued assault, disrespect and ignorance towards oceanic life, we have not yet destroyed the marine ecosystem to the point where these types of events stop occurring. In an already "ill ocean" (see also:The Starving Ocean) "deprived of vital oxygen" - this calling by (DFO) for a "grey seal harvest"...when we accommodate the short term goals of special interest groups, we carelessly threaten the "ecological equilibrium" of all life (terrestrial and aquatic)...by continuously exploiting marine mammals - our future hangs precariously in the balance.

(click on image)
(GSCS) Collage, Melmerby Beach 2005

To paraphrase poet John Masefield

" I must go down to the sea again, to the sea and the ice and the seals-specifically, the ice of the Gulf of St. Lawrence where...the cutest of all seal pups are born, those whose dark appealing eyes once moved a world to pity..."

(GSCS) invites all "artists" and "photographers" to submit their "grey seal" pictures...

-(click on image to enlarge)-

This clean-cut torpedo shaped pup is only a few weeks old. Its fore-flippers are neatly tucked up underneath, perhaps to retain valuable body heat...at this stage, with lack of body fat the pup is susceptible to cold water temperatures. For now, this "snowy white coat" must spend a few more weeks on land before venturing out to sea, and notice too, the "purity of heart" in those big brown eyes...

This pup is close to four weeks old and nearing the end of it's lactation period-a time when dependency on mothers fat-rich milk has lessened. This baby grey seal weighs close to 100 pounds (45 kg) and has recently moulted it's protective white coat and before long it will be totally self-reliant. Also, the coloration of this seals fur blends in nicely with the existing environment-a natural camouflage...

On Saturday, Jan. 15, after hearing that because of the lack of ice in our local waters (the Northumberland Strait), grey seals were on one of our beaches (Melmerby) giving birth to their young, we went to see for ourselves. It was bitterly cold and windy, but there were many people at the beach with cameras.

We saw about six female grey seals with their white pups on the beach; some of them were nursing. The seals were huge (females up to 550 pounds, and males about 100 pounds heavier), mottled in colour, and with large Roman noses. One felt a sense of mystery standing before them.

I also felt wonder that they could survive, because of how they are now targeted as "fish destroyers" by fishing interests and government agencies. Many fishermen seem to shoot seals on sight here in the Maritimes. Now the DFO, which has a history of fostering seal killing, has "authorized" that 10,000 grey seals can be killed over a two-year period.

In some way, I think the "protection" needed for these seals, in the short term, is becoming more obvious to the public. Of course, a change in public consciousness - away from alleged human self-interest - is needed in the long term for seal and other wildlife survival.

It is a wonderful and humbling experience to see up close these large, wild marine animals that have come forth from the sea to give birth.

David Orton, Saltsprings

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