(Yarmouthport, USA – 21 March 2008) — In a few days, the Canadian government will open its commercial seal hunt — the largest hunt for marine mammals in the world. This year, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has once again decided to ignore scientific advice by setting the quota at 275,000 harp seals, well above what the population can sustain. Experts with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare – http://www.ifaw.org/) will be stationed in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada to observe and document this year’s hunt for harp and hooded seals.
Given the recent history of unsustainable catches, poor ice conditions and increased pup mortality, the decision to open this year’s hunt demonstrates to the world that the Canadian government does not value science or conservation.
“Just last year, hundreds of thousands of newborn pups in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence died due to lack of ice before the hunt even began,” stated Sheryl Fink, a senior researcher with IFAW. “And now with an exceedingly high quota, this same harp seal population will face another year of decline.”
In the last year, an international groundswell of opposition to this hunt has brought about national bans on seal products in Belgium and The Netherlands. Similar bans designed to close down markets for seal pelts are currently under consideration in Germany, Italy and Austria.
Amid the European trade ban discussions of the last year, the international demand for seal fur has diminished considerably and pelt prices have dropped by almost half.
“All recent evidence indicates that the market for seal fur is saturated. There is no place for pelts to go, even at reduced prices,” said Fink. “For these reasons, the Canadian government will once again have to support this cruel and unsustainable hunt with tax breaks and hidden subsidies,” added Fink. “It has become quite clear that Canada’s commercial seal hunt sustains nothing but the political futures of a few decision-makers in Canada.”
IFAW is continuing to observe Canada’s commercial seal hunt, as it has done for many years. IFAW observers have maintained a non-confrontational approach when documenting the hunt despite past attacks from sealers.
“Our objective is to safely obtain footage, so the world can see and understand the cruelty of this hunt.” said Cheryl Jacboson, IFAW’s Hunt Watch organizer.
Last year over 224,000 seals were killed in Canada’s commercial seal hunt, 98.5% of which were pups under three months old.
To learn more about IFAW’s efforts to end the Canadian commercial seal hunt, visit http://www.stopthesealhunt.org/ today.
