| Year(s) |
Regulation and/or Quota |
| 1895 |
Protections for seals of breeding age and vessels restricted to one trip to the hunting grounds.
|
| 1961 |
Hunt closing date of May 5th was introduced.
|
| 1964 - 1965 |
Protection of adult seals in breeding patches, a catch limit of 50 000 seals in the Gulf of
St. Lawrence to stop Norwegian sealing in this area. A ban is placed
on hooded seal-hunting in the Gulf of St. Lawrence due to the low numbers in the area. In-port inspections
introduced. Fisheries officers accompany vessels greater than 65 feet. Mandatory for all hunters to be licensed.
|
| 1966 |
Females protected on whelping/birthing patches.
|
| 1968 |
Opening dates are regulated and the closing date set to April 25th, greatly decreasing the length
of the season. Ban on the use of aircraft.
|
| 1971 |
First quota set to 245,000. Vessels greater than 35 feet must be licensed.
|
| 1972 |
Quota set to 150,000. Ship based sealing banned in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Regulations on size and weight requirements
for clubs and hakapiks ensures that the animal is killed in a swift, humane fashion.
|
| 1972 - 1975 |
Quota remains at 150,000. First quotas for hooded seals.
|
| 1976 |
Quota set to 127,000.
|
| 1977 |
Quota set to 160,000. Observers of the hunt must acquire a permit to do so.
|
| 1978 - 1981 |
Quota set to 180,000.
|
| 1986 |
The Malouf Commission Report is released which establishes future policy on the management of the hunt.
|
| 1987 |
Large vessels are banned and harvesting of seal pups, whitecoats, and bluebacks is also banned.
|
| 1993 |
The Marine Mammal Regulations are adopted.
|
| 1995 |
Quota set to 250,000.
|
| 1997 - 2002 |
Quota set to 275,000.
|
| 2003 - 2004 |
Quota set to 350,000. Blinking eye reflex test becomes mandatory.
|
| 2005 |
Quota set to 275,000.
|
| 2006 |
Quota set to 325,000.
|
| 2007 |
Quota set to 270,000. New regulatons stemming from reccomendations of the 2005 Independent Veterinarians
Working Group(IVWG) report (PDF).
|
| 2008 |
Quota set to 275,000. New regulatons stemming from reccomendations of the 2005 Independent Veterinarians
Working Group(IVWG) report (PDF).
|