Is Canada’s Gray Seal Hunt Cancelled Due to Lack of Demand?
Thousands of gray seals could be spared particularly brutal deaths this year because sealers have been unable to find a buyer for the pelts.
This news comes as the European Union considers a ban on all seal products, an action which some think drove typical pelt buyers to rethink their purchase this year. Multiple sources say the hunt will likely not happen, but Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans still officially say the hunt is on.
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“The cancellation of Nova Scotia’s grey seal hunt is a tremendous victory for the seals,” said Rebecca Aldworth, director of Humane Society International/Canada. “It is incredibly heartening to know that thousands of seal pups will be spared from a fate similar to the unbearable carnage we documented last year during the slaughter on Hay Island.”
Some sealers worry that they will not be able to find a buyer for the larger annual harp seal hunt either.
The Humane Society has petitioned the Canadian government to buy-out sealing licenses from affected sealers and to begin developing different economies for coastal communities that rely on the seal hunts to make money.
Photo credit: MGSpiller on Flickr under Creative Commons license.
To be honest; I find it a complete waste of time to be arguing with some people, but I will make one final post.
First of all; my goal was never to argue with whomever would respond. This was initially a discussion with Alex. Who incidentally responded well. Many thanks for that Alex. He for one refrained from simply responding in an insulting manner as a response to comments made and took positive action.
Like it or not, there are many dimensions to the hunt and hunting of seal by Aboriginal peoples (Inuit in this case). They are cultural, socio-economic and survival based. Whether some of you that have posted responses on Alex’s initial post agree with this or not is basically irrelevant. There is more to the world than to not kill an animal. Some people depend on these animals for survival (nourishment as well as commerce - yes, Inuit do sell the furs of seal they hunt – so yes, the European ban affects Inuit). As to my personal opinion – it is not more important to preserve culture over the life of a living being. However, my emphasis is not just the seals, but the whole picture. It is a balance issue that is at hand here…M’dear (L).
As to what I think of some of you – I don’t. I think about how Inuit are affected and work on the issue as well as I can. Contrary to some… So some responses may be and have been insulting, aggressive - whatever. It does not matter. Being able to perceive the whole picture is important - whatever you think about this matter. It is not simply a matter of hating the hunt supporters/hunt opponents – although I do not hate anyone who does oppose the hunt. My opinions/feelings regarding this issue are a little more complex than that. And in some way I understand some of the reasoning behind the comments. But this does not eliminate the fact that the Southern/urban perspective does not have the right of way and is not necessarily the correct way to handle a situation.
So, take it or leave it – in terms of what I have said. It does not really matter. Because in the end these (my comments – and yours) are just writing on the internet. Having a greater understanding of a situation, being able to strike a balance and actually think beyond the ‘I love animals and don’t want baby animals to be killed’ scenario is really far more important in the greater scheme of things. Oh and to maybe act in a manner that benefits us all (meaning including Inuit and the other hunters) might also be a bit of a boon…don’t you think?
Please keep in mind that this last sentence was a rhetorical question. No need to answer. I won’t be back to read whatever will follow anyways.
Have a nice day all and good luck with your future writings Alex. I’ve read some of your previous posts and found them quite interesting.
Thank you, Rachel! For a moment I thought devastation was already striking the earth and the end of the world was just around the corner from what I read by the idiots.
Interessante Informationen.
Looks like you attracted some sealers here. I for one am opposed to seal hunting. It is cruel and not necessary. I am glad that the European Union considers banning it all together. We don’t need this cruelty. Killing is out, Tourists are in. Change the way you think and the world will embrace Canada once more. Ah, that is right after they ban bear hunting for fur!! Tradition is no excuse for cruelty. And no, I am not sorry for sealers hardship. If you dish it out, then you have to take it aswell.
I am not feeling sorry for sealers. They dish it out but can’t take it? What are you? Change your jobs, Killing is out, Tourists are in. Simply. And stop crying will you. I am glad, that the European Union is considering banning seal products. We don’t need this cruel trade. Maybe then we will embrace Canada again. Oh, right after they ban bear shooting!!!!
Looks like we got some sealers here? Please stop your whining. I hope the European Union bans import. This awful massacre must stop, we don’t need it! Change to tourism instead, then we may embrace Canada once again. Oh, that is right after they ban Bear shooting for fur. Another awful “profession” of Canada.
Alex great post and yes us supporters of your post are showing up and commenting.
Far from a few lone aborigines staking out the day’s kill for their food the yearly seal hunt is flat out a slaughter of baby seals.
Sure it is illegal to hunt the white fur babies - but this white pelt is most certainly poached and no doubt sold for a good price if even on a black market. These poachers easily blend in with the wholesale carnage going on.
The seals are still pup seals being killed - quite unpleasantly. Bashing the heads of these baby seals is not always a clean quick kill. Shooting them and allowing them to fall wounded into the water is not a humane death either.
Get some tourism or something going - boycotting the Canadian seafood industry is in full swing and gaining and now the winter Olympics looming will have some boycotting going on.
It will be more costly to have consumers turned off by all this bloody carnage!
Canada = carnage of babies - great marketing tool Canada!