Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bartholomew, G. A., & Wilke, F. (1956). Body temperature in the northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus. Journal of Mammalogy, 37(3), 327-337.

Butterworth, A., & Richardson, M. (2013). A review of animal welfare implications of the Canadian commercial seal hunt. Marine Policy, 38, 457-469.

Daoust, P. Y., Hammill, M., Stenson, G., & Caraguel, C. (2014). A review of animal welfare implications of the Canadian commercial seal hunt: A critique. Marine Policy, 43, 367-     371.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2011. Frequently asked Questions about Canada’s Seal Harvest. Available at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/seal-phoque/faq-eng.html

IFAW. 2009. Canada’s Commercial Seal Slaughter. Available at: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/2009%20seal%20sealing.pdf

Lavigne, D. M., & Lynn, W. S. (2011). Canada’s Commercial Seal Hunt: It’s More Than a Question of Humane Killing. Journal of Animal Ethics, 1(1), 1-5.

Linzey, A. (2006). Ethical Critique of the Canadian Seal Hunt and an Examination of the Case for Import Controls on Seal Products. J. Animal L.,2, 87.

Lyman, R. L. (1992). Prehistoric seal and sea-lion butchering on the southern Northwest Coast. American Antiquity, 246-261.

Malm, S. 2015. Return to Canada’s killing fields: Government gives green light for almost HALF A MILLION seals to be killed for their fur in annual cull – and vast majority will be pups who die by a club or ice pick to the head. Mail online, March 27 2015, updated on April 10 2015.

Smith, E. A. (1966). A review of the world’s grey seal population. Journal of Zoology, 150(4), 463- 489.

Tilt, W., & Spotila, J. (1991). Wildlife management or animal rights—lessons from the harp seal. In Transactions of the Fifty-sixth North American Wildlife and Natural Resources             Conference (Vol. 56, pp. 409-422).

World Trade Organization. 2014. Dispute DS400, European Communities — Measures Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Seal Products. Available at https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds400_e.htm.

The previous post talks about the opposition that the government and various other groups have to a complete ban on all commercial seal hunting. The difficult thing to do is to look at all these different values and opinions and offer a satisfying alternative that the majority of people and here are some alternatives that achieve different goals.

• A less severe ban would only ban commercial seal hunting and allow the aboriginals to hunt for subsistence.
• A variation of the ban above with only aboriginal people being able to hunt seals but are also allowed to sell the products. (EU implements this currently)
• More severe punishments and enforcement of improper hunting techniques or failure to comply to regulations.
• A ban on harvesting any seals that have not reached maturity.
• A combination of the above alternatives.
  

  Source: https://www.furcanada.com/web/images_product/2015-10-01_18-31-11_skins_furs_and_hides_harp_seals_02.jpg

First off there is the obvious outcome that the animal welfare issues surrounding seal hunting would disappear but the Canadian government has been against this view and they give several different reasons including the following.

• The current seal hunt is done humanely and in accordance to guidelines that the government has set and is compared to other hunting as well as fishing.
• As mentioned before, the majority of seal hunters are seasonal workers who’s yearly income is significantly impacted by the seal hunt and these are rural workers with fewer options for employment.
• First nations people have been hunting seals for many generations and is part of their culture a complete ban of hunting seals may also infringe upon their constitutionally given rights as well the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• Managing the seal population is also another justification for the seal hunt and it is strongly hinted on the DFO website that seal populations are large and may grow out of control as well as direct links being made that grey seals a minor species in terms of the commercial hunt may be causing the Atlantic fishing stocks to not replenish as quickly due to their diet of cod and other marine animals.
  

  Source: https://vanessatrijoulet.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/seal-eating.jpg?w=459

Today there have been efforts to make more humane, reduce and even ban the act of commercial seal harvesting.

• In 1987 the Canadian government banned the hunting of whitecoats which refer to harp seal pups who have not had their first molt. That means that they are hunted usually when they are 25 days old.
• In 2009 the EU banned seal products from its markets resulting in a sharp decrease in price, demand and overall harvest of seal pelts and other products.
• Also in 2009 Canada updated its policies on the seal hunt resulting in the three step process described before as well as clear regulations about permits, who is allowed to obtain a permit as well as a two year apprenticeship for new sealers and punishment for not following regulation.
• A scientific committee as well as the industry advise the government about the TAC (total allowable catch) and is assess each year. Since 2009 that number is far greater than actual harvest with 400000 seals in the TAC but only 35000 seal harvested in 2015.
  

  Source: http://theresagriffin.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/seal-trade-ban-fb.png

Seal clubbing is perhaps one of Canada’s most notorious activities and is the subject of many protests. What makes seal clubbing the target of so many vocal protest is perhaps the bias that humans have towards furry, cute, baby animals. Outline by the DFO ( Department of Fisheries and Oceans) the way to humanely harvest seals include first shooting or striking the top of its cranium followed by palpitation of its skull to ensure both halves of the cranium is crushed (if not strike again) then severing two arteries underneath its flippers and bleeding out for at least a minute before skinning the animal. This is the most proper and humane way of killing seals according to the DFO.

Source: http://i.cbc.ca/1.2111683.1382509700!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_300/sealers-wide-cp-6453969.jpg

The practice above has many people upset about the practice but another reason why the commercial seal hunt is under so much scrutiny are claims that the hunting often is not done humanely and result in many injuries before a seal is finally killed including shooting injuries due to missed shots, improper strike resulting in needing more strikes, failure to check if seal is dead before skinning.

Source: http://www.robertgalbraith.com/wp-content/gallery/canadian-harp-seal-hunt/skinningonice.jpg

Today most of the seal hunting in Canada is done commercially and while the traditional hunt still goes on with the aboriginal people but make up smaller number. Modern commercial seal hunting is done with high powered rifles with approved ammunition and a club called hakapik. This commercial hunt mostly happens in Newfoundland and Labrador, with harp seals making the majority of seals hunted and the remaining numbers are mostly made up of grey seals. The Canadian government asserts that these seal hunts are substantial employers in the rural community and make up a considerable part of their yearly income.

http://i.cbc.ca/1.2468739.1438550507!/cpImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/arctic-seals.jpg

Seal clubbing generally refers to the act of using a hakapik to strike and kill a seal by crushing its skull and its brain. Seal cubs are generally targeted as they have the most valuable coat (though white coats are now banned in Canada more on this later).

Source; http://www.unmaskingchoice.ca/sites/default/files/imagecache/original/images/sr-8.jpg

Source: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-people-arctic/

Traditional seal hunting has been done by by the aboriginal people of Canada for thousands of years. The seals provided a source of meat, fur, and bones that were important to their survival. The flesh and blubber was consumed and the fur and bones were made into tools and clothes to allow them to survive the harsh arctic climate. This practice continues on today and indigenous people still hunt seal as a part of their culture and for subsistence and is protected under current regulations and laws.