Who do you call if you see a dead seal or other marine animal?

A local reader sent in photos of a dead seal and dead fish seen in the Squamish Estuary at the end of January.

The reader also said the sighting was reported to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

The Squamish Chief forwarded the photos and asked DFO about this.

A spokesperson for the federal agency said they couldn't determine the cause, but didn't believe the seal's death was caused by people.

"Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) Marine Mammal Unit received the report of a dead seal in the Squamish Estuary and assessed the incident, which determined no signs of trauma or human interaction," the spokesperson said in an email to The Squamish Chief on Feb. 15. "It is quite common to have seals in the estuary, as well as quite far upriver.

While not blaming human action for this seal's death, the DFO spokesperson noted that in Canada, except under specific circumstances for which DFO authorization has been given, it is forbidden to injure or disturb a marine mammal. 

Disturbing includes the following:

1. Feeding, touching or swimming/interacting with the animal.
2. Tagging or marking a marine mammal.
3. Moving it, luring it or coaxing it to swim in one direction or another.
4. Separating it from members of its group or coming between a marine mammal and its young.

If you see an animal being harassed or observe an entangled, sick, injured, distressed, or dead marine mammal, please call DFO's observe, record and report 24-hour hot line at 1-800-465-4336.