Comment

Comment by Peter Emberley on February 13, 2016 at 7:06pm

The largest number of turrs are offshore around Newfoundland.

Comment by Noah Pittman on February 13, 2016 at 1:21am

Not sure where montvechhi is getting his numbers from but I cannot see how he can say turr populations are good. At least not in this part of the atlantic or world for that matter. If they are taking the turr population and putting together pacific and atlantic populations as a whole maybe as we are a small percentage.If they are high tell me why there aren't any turres in other areas of the island such as conception bay, trinity bay and white bay. These areas all had turres one time and now they have none. I know turres and migratory and patterns shift with food etc but there should be some turres in these areas. Also the turr numbers that are coming to placentia bay are much lower than I have everseen as well as People who are much older than me. I don't have much faith in the numbers produced from studies ,we see where that has got us with parts of the fishery.

Comparing snow geese to turres can't be compared in my view either as when it comes to breeding 1 breeding pair of geese means up to 10 chicks 1 breeding pair of turres equal 1 chick depending on mortality rate.

Just my thoughts

Comment by Boyd Winsor on February 12, 2016 at 7:21pm

Some good conversation on this subject. While I was picking a few birds today I heard Bill Montevechhi who is a well renowned and respected scientist specializing in marine birds in an interview with Pete Soucy. He verified that the turr population has shown increase in recent years due to two factors 1. No bunker from passing ships in a decade mainly because of enforcement. 2. No gill nets in areas around bird colony's since moratorium. He also acknowledged that some people don't play by the rules which makes it difficult for the majority who do. The solution is enforcement by Environment Canada. There is some lobbying by different parties to hire Environment Canada enforcement officers. If there were the presence of enforcement then the illegal selling of turrs will stop. He didn't see any need for knee jerk reactions and has tremendous respect for this time honored tradition which so many of us cherish. In essence, if people played by the rules then that should solve the problem of over hunting. Should the quota be lowered maybe but that is up for debate.

I spent the last few years teaching in the Arctic and witnessed what many would call a slaughter of snow geese. Despite taking hundreds of thousands of snow geese the population is very high. In fact they have an annual spring cull on birds because they are eating the Arctic grasses. This is a poor comparison but as long as the habitat is healthy and there is a low natural mortality then the population should be healthy in my opinion. When you consider the population of turrs on the Funk Islands, Baccalieu Island, Cape St. Mary's, etc then a few hundred thousand should be recoverable and sustainable. Add to that the millions of turrs migrating down from the Arctic and Greenland then the harvest by hunters should continue for generations but again only if hunters follow the rules.

Comment by Noah Pittman on February 12, 2016 at 12:51pm

Sorry about that the 2 trips comment but this is something that has been happening this year and in recent years. Probably would have yesterday only the turres are not there. If the people that count are reading these comments then should start to make it known that they are and do something about It before it's too late. This issue has been ongoing for about 8 years and this is the first bit of conservation I have seen.

There are only about 10 people commenting pretty much all having roots in placentia bay. What do people from other areas think are they supporting this too?

Comment by Peter Emberley on February 12, 2016 at 12:42pm

Someone getting hurt does not seem to be an issue. The issue that I see, at the current rate of harvest the turr population will not be able to sustain itself. This is my worry.
Turr hunting is a time honored tradition for Newfoundlanders, I would like to see it continued for future generations.

Comment by kenneth Griffiths on February 12, 2016 at 8:20am

I guess when someone gets hurt or killed out there that's when someone looks at it.

Comment by Peter Emberley on February 12, 2016 at 12:40am

Don't waste your time with open line. The conversation that is happening in this very group is being monitored by people that care very much about continuing a sustainable turr harvest. The number of turrs being harvested is being noticed.
Noah, I must disagree with your statement about boats making 2 trips. My boat was one of those that went out at 11am. We took a fella out that was new to turr hunting with the hopes of picking up 10 or a dozen. We didn't, we got 6.

When I pulled into the base at Argentia, I was in shock at the number of trucks with trailers.
I'm estimating 10000 birds in the last 2 or 3 weeks killed in Placentia Bay.
That number is unsustainable. Unless something is done I honestly think turr hunting will end.
I think some things need to be done.

1. Contact the Federal Canadian Wildlife Service. Tell them straight up, what is happening.

2. The CWS need to lower the limit of turrs a hunter can harvest during a hunt.

I believe the the total harvest for any single day per hunter should be lowered to 10 per person. This should ensure a sustainable hunting population.

3. The CWS should take direction from hunters that actually care about conservation and maintaining a healthy population while ensuring the hunt continues for generations to come.

Comment by Noah Pittman on February 11, 2016 at 9:07pm

I agree with all that's said. I can confirm the boats in the bay today as I was working in the bay all day . Everytime I put binoculars up there was 10 boats. Also don't no for sure but i saw a few boats leaving Argentia at around 1100 seems suspiciously like people making 2 trips which has been happening . There were also a lot of boats out of long harbour , and Arnold's cove which we have toadd to earlier estimates.

We can talk about this all year here and nothing will happen. This needs to go viral and public for something to happen. I sent a letter to open line a few years ago stating all the facts we are talking about now , all I got as a reaction was calling me greedy and wanting them all for ourselves in Placentia .This year I've only been out once at turres , I can't stomach to go out and face all the boats.

We need together and do something before its to late.

Comment by kenneth Griffiths on February 11, 2016 at 8:52pm

Very true Curtis it's not a good place to not knowing were you are or what's under the boat. Hole in the wall rock is under water but it breaks hard and fast. If you are not sure where it is it will for sure roll you. I to have been out there at a young age and father and brother have been all over it. Places that take time to bust on the Sholes, looks cam then out of no were bust 30 feet up. But on that note there is no one in government looking at what's been taken. And soon enough that will be on the news saying there's no birds left.

Comment by Harold on February 11, 2016 at 6:36pm

We went to o'donalds today got 6 birds they are thin out there

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