“Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?” – Mahatma Gandhi
There can be no redemption for killing the hapless harp seal pups. Supporting or participating in fur trade is a crime. What redemption in wearing a baby seal’s skin? According to Harpseals.org 95% of the seals killed in the Canadian seal hunt are between 12 days and 4 months old. Brutal slaughter of absolutely helpless seal pups, by hacking them with ‘hakapik’, cannot be called hunting.
Europe banned import of ‘white coat’ back in 1986, which had a dramatic effect on the seal pelt market. Now though, the world demand for seal pelts is growing. Killing juvenile seals just cannot be good business; it definitely is not something to make an excuse of demand and supply. Leading international brands like Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Versace have been named by harpseals.org as major traders in harp seal fur garments.
To kill the animals without damaging their fur, trappers usually strangle, beat, or stomp them to death. Animals on fur farms may be gassed, electrocuted, poisoned with strychnine, or have their necks snapped. These methods are not 100 percent effective and some animals "wake up" while being skinned.
A team of observers with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare – www.ifaw.org) are currently documenting the commercial seal hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. Canada’s commercial seal hunt is the largest hunt for marine mammals in the world. Hunters are allowed to kill pups as soon as they begin to molt their white coats, which occurs when the animals are about two weeks old.
“In spite of the fact that the DFO has refused to issue observation permits for the opening day of the annual slaughter, I have no doubt that the world will be watching closely.” said Sheryl Fink, senior researcher and veteran seal hunt observer with IFAW. “Unfortunately, I think this year’s hunt will be ‘business as usual’ here in Canada. I don’t expect to see any improvement in the way animals are killed, or in the way this hunt is monitored.”
Sealers compete to make their quotas in unpredictable conditions – shifting ice, high winds, freezing temperatures and unpredictable seas – all of which make it extremely difficult to execute a so-called ‘humane’ kill.
International opposition to Canada’s commercial seal hunt has grown considerably in the last year. Belgium and the Netherlands have both banned the import of all seal-derived products and Germany and Austria have also taken steps to shut down markets. Currently, the European Union is on the verge of deciding if a ban on seal products will blanket all member nations.
“Europe is on the brink of banning this cruel and unsustainable hunt, said Robbie Marsland, IFAW’s seal program director and UK country director. “Canadians against the hunt are starting to stand up and be counted. IFAW is here to turn the spotlight on the grim reality that appalls Canadians and Europeans alike. Together we can stop the horror. Canada is better than this.”
“Even though a huge government delegation is now in Europe promoting this indefensible seal hunt, I am confident that once again the evidence will speak for itself. The cruelty of Canada’s commercial seal hunt is undeniable.” added Fink.
Canada has allowed over one million seals to be killed in the past four years. This year’s quota for 275,000 seals makes it the fifth consecutive year in which the government quota has exceeded the amount of seals that can be safely removed without causing the population to decline.
On the opening day of the hunt, the IFAW team observed and documented sealers on the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence hunting with hakapiks.
“We witnessed a classic example of the cruelty associated with this hunt. We filmed as a sealer struck a seal with a hakapik before it slipped into the water. The sealer tried to pull the seal out by the hind flippers but it slipped underwater anyway,” said Cheryl Jacobson, hunt observer with IFAW. “This wounded seal will most likely die underwater and unbelievably, that kill won’t even be counted in the official catch number.”
In a desperate attempt to convince European policy-makers that the seal hunt is humane, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has instituted a new condition of license requiring sealers to bleed out seals before moving them. The footage shows that sealers are not complying with this new rule and cruelty is continuing.
“We’ve just filmed four seals being killed and not a single one was bled out before moving it,” said Sheryl Fink, hunt observer and senior researcher with IFAW. “If the DFO is serious about the new condition of license I expect to see them take action on this.”
“Based on what we’ve seen, it’s ‘business as usual’ here in Canada,” added Fink. “The rush to club as many seals as possible in a short period of time, combined with the slippery ice conditions means that once again, animal welfare takes a back seat to profit.”
The United States has banned Canadian seal products since 1972. The Netherlands and Belgium also ban seal products, and bans are under consideration by Germany, Italy and Austria. The European Union is considering a ban on all seal products. More needs to be done by governments and business establishments around the world to end this gruesome slaughter of harp seals.
To learn more about IFAW’s efforts to end the Canadian commercial seal hunt, visit www.stopthesealhunt.org
