Many people today, especially Canadians, think that the seal hunt is dead. The sealing industry is alive and kicking. The only thing that is dead are the seals, after they've been clubbed or shot. As many seals are killed today as they were in the 1950s and 1960s when overhunting reduced the number of seals to near extinction. Industry officials and Canadian politicians argue that it is an animal industry like any other, an abattoir, except on the ice, but hundreds of abuses and violations of Canada's Marine Mammal Regulations have been documented by animal welfare organizations, veterinarians and through confessions of sealers. To date no charges have been laid in response.
Veterinary reports that studied several seal hunts documented that a number of animals do not die after being clubbed the first time, many are hooked and dragged across the ice while they are still alive and are then clubbed again. These veterinarian reports concluded that existing regulations were not being respected resulting in considerable and unacceptable suffering of the seals.
Empty Promises to Revive a Dying Industry
According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) despite opposition from many individuals who disapprove the seal hunt the sealing industry continues to be subsidized by those who oppose it – Canadian taxpayers. Millions of taxpayers' dollars are spent annually on government support for the seal industry and IFAW learned that in 2010 the Canadian Seal Marketing Group received a $325,000 grant to be used in trade shows in China and Russia. "The money wasted over the last years should instead have been spent on compensation and working to transition people out of this dead-end industry" said Sheryl Fink, Director of IFAW's seal program, "one has to wonder if the Canadian government makes these empty promises simply to try and win votes in Atlantic Canada."
Canada's seal industry has a history of Canadian government officials making empty promises about a market for seal products in China despite the fact that seal products are not popular in China. Canadian politicians have been hoping for over 20 years that the dying seal industry will be saved by China. The Chinese and the majority of Canadians don't use seal products, says Sheryl Fink, Director of the IFAW Seal Program, "the Canadian government is insulting the Chinese people by trying to dump products that Canadians don't even want."
Canadian Politicians Look to Chinese Market
In 1993 a pilot scheme established between Terra Nova Fisheries, Newfoundland, and Shanghai Fisheries, China, to explore seal products trade in Asia involved seal oil and pelts. Two years later media reports announced that North American Environmental Technologies Inc. (NAE), an Ontario company, would be given the go-ahead to build a factory to process up to 250,000 seals for the Asian market.
In 1996 Newfoundland provincial staff reportedly met with Chinese officials to seal a deal for 900 thousand kilograms of seal meat. Newfoundland Fisheries Minister, John Efford claimed that the province must start focusing on China due to the fact that the demand for seal products in that country was "skyrocketing." In 1998 the Chinese withdrew from a tentative deal to export 24,000 seals per year to China. Later John Efford continued to pursue the Chinese market for the sale of seal products, "The purpose of the subsidies on seal meat was only to develop markets...I'm excited about markets opening in China..." In 2000 Efford claimed that the orders were pouring in from China...150,000 flippers and 300 tons of dried seal meat from China.
In 2001 a trade mission to China explored Chinese demand for seal oil and other seal products. Two years later Canadian harp seal meat and deli products made their debut at the Canadian Gourmet Festival in Guangzhou, China. In 2010 Canadian seal products were promoted again when Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Gail Shea, visited China. In 2011 Shea announced a deal with China to allow the import of edible seal products.
The United States, the EU and the majority of Canadians don't consume seal products or even want them and the Canadian government is insulting the Chinese people by trying to dump products that Canadians don't want, said Sheryl Fink. A seal industry executive reportedly said to The Globe and Mail last year that "the Chinese eat anything." FAW's Asia Regional Director, Grace Ge Gabriel angrily replied that "China is not a dumping ground for Canadian seal products and Chinese consumers should not shoulder the ethical responsibility of paying for the cruel slaughter of seals in Canada." In a survey conducted by IFAW Chinese consumers claimed that they would reject wildlife products if only they were made aware of the truth about the cruelty involved.
Canada Challenges EU's Right to Say NO
The European Union (EU) banned products from commercial seal hunts in 2010, the prohibition will result in a $2.4 million loss for the Canadian sealing industry, according to an article which appeared in the Vancouver Observer on June 19, 2010. This prompted federal Fisheries Minister, Gail Shea to launch a formal challenge at the World Trade Organization on February 11, 1011 in response to the EU ban on the trade of seal products. IFAW condemned the Canadian government for challenging the right of Europeans to say "no" to products that are the result of inhumane commercial seal hunts. Sheryl Fink claims that launching a formal challenge at the World Trade Organization could take more than three years and Canadian taxpayers will be footing a bill that will run into the millions of dollars. Polls show that the majority of Canadians oppose the use of government funds for this challenge and would rather see their hard earned money used to phase out the seal hunt. Eu citizens feel that "Canada is wasting ...money of Canadians to fight a battle that ...is already lost"
Canadian Seal Hunt - Untold Cruelty and Abuses
Approximately 400,000 seals are killed each year on Canada's East Coast. Most are baby seals between the ages of 3 weeks and 3 months, and because they are so small they're unable to fend for themselves. Seal hunt cruelty documented each year shows seals being hooked and dragged across the ice while still alive, other seals are shot in the water. IFAW hunt monitors witnessed that seals are routinely clubbed, often with illegal weapons - the documents show that no attempt is made to check if the seals are still conscious, whether they are alive or dead they are still mercilessly skinned.
IFAW video footage of the seal hunt and two veterinary reports (one sponsored by the Canadian government) over the past decade do not support claims by the Canadian government that the hunt is humane or well regulated. Direct testimonials from blueback sealers taken by Department of Fisheries and Oceans enforcement officers obtained through Access to Information requests contain graphic descriptions of cruelty during the seal hunts. "if Greenpeace were only here to see this," "if we had a camera we'd make a fortune!" "I seen seven pups threw over the side after the female was pelted. I took two out myself. Me and another sealer even agreed that this was shocking and there should be another way to hunt seals."
Reference:
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
Giovanna De Gennaro - Giovanna is a Canadian citizen who has travelled and worked abroad. She speaks four languages and has worked as an EFL teacher in Italy. ...
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