Feature story - March 10, 2005
In the 70s and 80s, we watched in horror as hunters in Canada clubbed baby seals to death. And we thanked our respective gods when our outrage and activism finally led to a ban on the practice of killing whitecoats – seals less than 15 days old. But Canada's seal hunt hasn't gone away. In fact, the Canadian government recently authorized the largest ever commercial hunt of harp seals: one million over three years, most of them seal pups.
Harp seals in Canada are being killed in record numbers.
On March 15, 2005, Greenpeace joined groups from around the world to protest this plan as part of an international day of action. Activists gathered at Canadian embassies and consulates in 24 countries and demanded that Canada cancel this massive hunt.
Canada's new "management plan" for harp seals authorizes what will be the world's largest slaughter of marine mammals. Up to 350,000 seals may be killed when hunting season begins later this month. Seals older than two weeks are considered fair game. In fact, 95 percent of the seals killed are likely to be no more than four months old.
Take Action! Tell Canada to Stop the Hunt
This is obviously not about subsistence hunting. Seals are being killed in record numbers because of the demand for pelts and other seal products in Asia.
Another Threat to Add to the List
To say that Canada's hunt is irresponsible is an understatement. Seals are already threatened by global warming and overfishing. Eradicating one million of their young through hunting alone could be devastating to the population. Like many other animals that rely on polar ecosystems, harp seals are dependent on sea ice for breeding, resting and nursing. As global warming melts the ice, seals have progressively less room to survive.
A Long History of Bad Ideas
The Canadian government has an appalling management record when it comes to marine ecosystems. It was responsible for the collapse of the cod fishery in the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, allowing and encouraging factory fishing vessels to take unsustainable catches of fish over a period of decades. The Canadian government then blamed seals for eating all the cod, and called for an increase in the seal hunt.
The Canadian government has since taken responsibility for mismanaging the fishery, but it remains blind to the effects its new hunting quotas will have on seal populations. Ultimately, like the cod fishery, Canada's bad management of harp seals will be at great cost to jobs and, of course, marine life.
Help Us
Tell Canadian Prime Minister Martin to stop this indefensible hunt.
You can help us spread the word about Canada's seal hunt by printing out this flyer (pdf file) and placing it in your local libraries and other public places.