Local Journalism Initiative
A lack of sea ice coverage this past winter is leading to a reduced presence of some seal species in the water surrounding P.E.I. Seals rely on thick, packed sea ice to gather in safety to breed and hunt, raising their vulnerable young away from the reach of land or water predators. The Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait featured a distinct lack of this type of ice in 2024. Annual ice amounts still vary wildly from year to year, but Environment Canada data indicates a trend towar