Photographer : Darragh Sherwin |
The Canadian government sanctions hunters to kill baby harp seals at a given time of the year. It is a practice undergone by fisherman on Canada’s east coast during the off-season. Hunters beat the pups to death with a club or large ice-pick and sell the products of the seal—including its smooth white coat (which the seal eventually sheds in adulthood)—internationally. Hundreds of thousands of seals are killed each year and 97% of those killed are pups under 3 months of age.
Is commercial sealing in Canada justified?
According to Humane Society International, fishermen off the east coast of Canada who conduct the hunt make only 1/20 of their income from this. Around 90% of sealers reside in Newfoundland but commercial sealing accounts for less then 1% of that province’s economy.
Why is this an important issue?
The method of killing the seals is undeniably barbaric and cruel. A 2001 report conducted by an independent group of veterinarians
http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/dfiles/file_95.pdf ) found that not only were government regulations concerning basic animal welfare being ignored, but that in 42% of the cases, seals were being skinned whilst alive and conscious. The Canadian government has ignored the findings of this report.
In addition there is presently no penalty in place for those who breach the set quota of seals to be killed. In 2004 close to 16 000 more seals were killed then were sanctioned by the Canadian government. In this case the Ministry for Fisheries and Oceans not only failed to take action against this excess but responded by extending the sealing season.
The current population of harp seals is believed to be acceptable. However, with over one million seal pubs killed over the last 3 years, many environmentalists believe the impact of commercial sealing will become evident very soon. Furthermore, if quotas set by the government continued to be ignored by all involved the harp seal population will inevitably face major decreases.
This content has been written in consultation with Humane Society International
