The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: An Investigation into the Scapegoating of Canada’s Grey Seal

In the early 1990s the collapse of the Atlantic groundfish stocks signaled the destruction of life in the seas and unraveled the very fabric of rural life throughout Atlantic Canada. Twenty years later, even after fishing moratoriums and limited directed fishing, the cod have not recovered, and some stocks are on the verge of biological extinction. The fishing industry, politicians and some government scientists blame the growing population of grey seals a species that had up until the 1970s been severely depleted and argue that a large scale cull of the population is needed to save the cod. In The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Linda Pannozzo finds that the truth is much more complex and that the seals are scapegoats for the federal governments mismanagement of the cod stocks, deflecting attention away from the effects of global warming and continued use of destructive fishing methods. The collapse of the cod fishery, its failure to recover and the recommendations for large-scale seal culls are stark reminders of how fisheries, science and public policy are increasingly estranged from each other. ******* "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is one of the most significant books to appear in modern times. With astonishing and terrifying clarity and passion it tolls a fearful tocsin. Unless we vastly improve upon our treatment of the oceans, all animate creation may pay a fatal price for our abuse, and the devil will have added a new and frightful realm to hell." -- Farley Mowat, author of Sea of Slaughter In The Early 1990s The Collapse Of The Atlantic Groundfish Stocks Signaled The Destruction Of Life In The Seas, But It Also Threw 40,000 People Out Of Work, Unraveling The Very Fabric Of Rural Life Throughout Atlantic Canada. Twenty Years Later, Even After Fishing Moratoriums And Limited Directed Fishing, The Cod Have Not Recovered And Some Stocks Are On The Verge Of Biological Extinction. The Fishing Industry, Politicians And Government Scientists Blame The Growing Population Of Grey Seals A Species That Had Up Until The 1970s Been Severely Depleted And Argue That A Large-scale Cull Of The Population Is Needed To Save The Cod. In The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea, Linda Pannozzo Finds That The Truth Is Much More Complex And That The Seals Are Scapegoats For The Federal Government S Mismanagement Of The Cod Stocks, Deflecting Attention Away From The Effects Of Global Warming And The Continued Use Of Destructive Fishing Methods. The Collapse Of The Cod, Its Failure To Recover And The Recent Recommendations For Large-scale Grey Seal Culls Are Stark Reminders Of How Fisheries, Science And Public Policy Are Increasingly Estranged From Each Other. Sactuary lost Graveyard of the Atlantic The new normal The devil is in the details The case of the missing fish Limiting factors Pandora's box Boomed and busted.