Canada Resumes Large-Scale Seal 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.