Concern About Declining Number or Size of Seal

Jack Lorrigan of Sitka reported, "I talked to Herman Kitka, and he's concerned that seals harvested are getting thin because the there isn't enough normal food source - targeting flounders and bullheads instead of herring, smelt."

Larry Willard of Ketchikan noted, "Now I'm into the study on what they were eating in the winter: herring, octopus, squid, and clams, crab - are the main foods of seals in the winter. What I saw happening to the seals in the Ketchikan area, is that there seems to be a good abundance of seals but that the winter sources are decreasing - the herring come in later and later and are further out. I've only come across one seal that was sick. I returned him back to nature; I didn't want to bring him in. but I wish I could have."

Herman Toolie of Savoonga noted, "About two years ago when we were corralling reindeer during that time the north wind started blowing and there were dead birds and dead hair seals and dolphins. All kinds of sea birds that washed ashore. And dog salmon that were never touched by seagull or foxes. They were never eaten. We were wondering why they weren’t eaten. The foxes usually eat the animals right away but these were never touched and they were wondering why. One of the elders said that these things never use to happen. It is something new to them."

Mary Kompkoff of Chenega Bay reported, "We still have seals in Chenega, but not as many as before the oil spill. Before the oil spill, people from Cordova used to come over and hunt them."