Poor sea-ice conditions expected to hamper the commercial seal hunt in part of eastern Canada, but also make it difficult for pups to survive, are a mixed blessing, according to an International Fund for Animal Welfare spokesperson.

Michelle Cliffe and another member of her animal-rights group are in the Atlantic region to keep an eye on any activity taking place as part of the harp-seal hunt that officially opened in the Gulf of St. Lawrence today (March 22).

Cliffe told the Straight by phone that sea-ice conditions were poor in the region in the two previous years and, amid a period of warm weather, the situation is shaping up to be the same in 2012. She said the lack of ice makes it more difficult for hunters to kill seals as the animals are not able to gather in large groups. But it also causes problems for newly born seals.

“Seals are an ice-breeding species so they need stable ice in order to give birth to their pups and in order for their pups to be able to nurse and to be able to get strong enough and old enough so that they can survive on their own,” Cliffe said.

“That’s the reason why we’re very, very concerned about ice. If there’s no ice, the adult seals cannot have their pups.”

Traditionally, a crew with International Fund for Animal Welfare would be on hand to document the hunt, Cliffe said. But with little sealing activity expected, she said the plan is to focus on monitoring how the seals are faring.

“Normally we would be jumping up and down with absolute glee that there are only a few boats hunting seals this year, and we would normally be thrilled to say that there’s no seal hunt in the Gulf, but the sad reality is that the seals are still dying,” she said.