In 1997, the number of newborn grey seal pups in the northwest Atlantic was estimated at around 35,000, of a total population of 190,000 grey seals. The herd on Sable Island is increasing at a rate of 13 per cent, or doubling every six years. In the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the herd appears to be increasing at a much lower rate, around 3 per cent. Only small numbers of grey seals are hunted each year and a TAC has not been established. Sealing is limited to a small traditional commercial hunt in an area off the Magdalen Islands and to commercial hunts of small numbers of grey seals in other areas, except Sable Island where no commercial hunting is permitted.
Grey seals have more recoverable meat but markets remain poor.
Grey seal pelts are much less valuable than harp seal pelts. With lower pelt demand and prices, marketing of these seals remains difficult. In 1999, only 98 grey seals were taken for commercial purposes. The first program resulted in an average take of about 720 seals per year and the latter removed about 1,000 animals per year from the grey seal population. This number compares to 1,046 harvested in 1998 and 1,639 in 1997.