The boat approached the island fast, on smooth waters, from the Cape Chignecto mainland area. It went along the west side of the island to what's known as Seal Cove, at the southern most tip. There are rocks and a small beach there frequented by basking seals.
One member of the camping group, Dr. Greg Breed, a research fellow at Dalhousie University in seal science as a matter of fact; was atop the island and heard the boat passing below - then he heard shots from the Seal Cove area. As Breed raced along the trail to the cove, he heard four or six more shots, then heard the boat moving position along the south end of the island. By the time he got to the cove, the boat was back. Breed took photos of the boat and witnessed two or three people on board shooting at the seals, appearing to hit at least one. Before they shot another, he called out from the bluff, asking them if they had a harassment permit to shoot seals. Breed remained hidden on the wooded bluff, overheard them as they talked about where he might be, then watched as they started the boat back up and left. The camping group at the north end of the island saw the boat leave, heading towards Cape Chignecto and disappearing on the horizon.
The next day, August 15, Breed took a different route, following the south beach. He discovered a fresh seal carcass with a gunshot to the head. August 17, he reported the incident to the Maritime Department of Fisheries' office in Dartmouth.
"We get complaints - not regularly," says Andrew Newbould, a maritime mammal advisor. "This is one of the most extreme situations I've seen in two years."
Newbould says fishermen can get a permit - with much paperwork - to address nuisance seals, but "you can't just go shooting seals.
"We have an investigation underway, and it would be a violation under the Marine Mammal regulations."
He couldn't say whether, if found, the boat's occupants would face criminal charges, fines or even see the boat seized.
"It has been passed on to a fisheries officer to investigate."
