The Seal Fishery.com - Canadian harp seal hunt

Thought I would make a comment here as what is commonly known as an anti. I am anti Harp Seal "hunt" because it is not truly a hunt to me. The young seals that are killed quite often have no chance to get away, and I do realize that many are able to slip into the water. Those that do that are the pups over 4 or 5 weeks old. Also I think of the many that are shot, wounded and never recovered, who die of their wounds.

One of my main reasons for being against the "hunt" is the waste of a beautiful resource, a Harp Seal, who is almost always only used for it's skin. The rest of the animal is thrown away as so much garbage, because most often the meat is not utilized. Many of the folks I've spoken to in Canada have said that outside of the locals who use the whole seal, the meat does not appeal to most people. Thus the Harp Seal is killed for fashion, or perhaps their flippers, but the rest is wasted.

As an aside, I am not a vegan,not an activist, nor do I think some of the tactics of extemist groups are right, but these groups merely hurt the cause of true animal lovers.

Hi Lyn,

Thank you for your calm demeanour and what I assume is an openness to engage in conversation on the issue. It would seem that while your perception of what happens during the hunt is more on track than most antis it seems to still be a little skewed. It would also seem to lack a complete picture of the hunt and why it happens, that was not meant as a slight in any way and please allow me to explain.

All seals killed are over 1 month of age and can swim and move across the ice very quickly. The fact is, sealing is the same as any other form of hunting but of course the main groups involved here want to distance the hunt as much as possible from other hunting based on the fact that other hunting is, to a large degree, socially acceptable. The fact is, the harp seal is no more defenceless to a high-powered rifle than a deer or any other hunted animal. In regards to struck and lost, the studies that have been done have reported a very low percentage of struck and lost occurrences. However, I would ask you this; considering the hunt takes place to cull harp seal populations and considering that during culling of seals in other countries like the UK where the seal is shot in open water and left to sink with nothing of the animal being used and no regulations in regards to checking for irreversible unconsciousness, would you not consider it beneficial that an industry is in place to utilize as much of the animal as markets will allow? Would you not think it better that the animal is used instead of Canada being like other countries and all the seals that are killed are left sink? Do you not think it beneficial that due to Canada attempting to utilize the animal more regulations have been created and continue to be created around the practice to killing seals to ensure the lowest possible number of inhumane occurrences?

To address your point relating to the usage of the animal, as you say, most of the flippers are used and represent the main concentration of the meat on a young seal. Some carcasses are also taken. The pelt is taken as is the blubber which is used in medicinal and industrial oils. All in all roughly 60% of the animal is used by body weight. To be honest, the usage argument is nothing more than a red herring as there have been many markets to help utilize the meat and other products which anti groups have shut down. In effect anti groups are fighting for less utilization of the seal and less monitoring because if the industry is closed nothing of the animal will be used and, most likely, government monitoring will be reduced. But the same seals will be killed for wildlife management purposes. I have to say that I am perplexed by your statement about the desirability of seal meat, what difference does it make if a few people you have talked to don’t like it? You can add me to the list as well but I know many who do like it, I know of many restaurants which serve it, I have read culinary reviews which have all been positive as to its gastronomic prowess and I have read nothing but positive reviews from places that have served it. As I stated above the harp seal is mainly killed for wildlife management purposes, not fashion.

If you do not agree with the tactics of “extremist groups” which includes lying to the general public why do you base your opinion on information originating from these groups?

Take care,
Mike

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