Boycott Canadian Seafood to Help End Destructive Seal Hunting Practices

The largest commercial slaughter of marine mammals in the world takes place for a few days a year by a few thousand Canadian fishermen- the seal hunt. The seals, including many babies, are killed for their fur, which accounts for a very small percentage of fishermen’s income, in fact a mere twentieth of it on average. 

In Newfoundland, for example, 98% of the fishing income is derived from selling actual fish and shellfish, 2% from seal hunting. Because the income earned by fishing is so much more substantial than by that of seal hunting, Canadian fishermen cannot afford to lose that pipeline. ProtectSeals network began a boycott of Canadian seafood the moment the first baby seal was killed, realizing that the only wa to put enough pressure on the fishermen was to cut off their primary source of income. The power to force the Canadian fishermen t stop their hunting lies in the hands of the consumers and the companies that sell seafood. 

The bulk of Canadian seafood, an estimated 75% of it, is exported to the US, generating more than $3 billion (CAD) annually for the Canadian government. By refusing to purchase Canadian seafood, we are forcing them to discontinue these destructive practices. Jimbo’s and other responsible vendors are also refusing to stock Canadian seafood in their stores.

A few facts about the seal hunt:

- Over the past three years, nearly a million seals have been slaughtered. 95% of them killed in the last 5 years have been under three months of age. They have no defense against the hunters.

- The hunters are cruel and inhumane; videos show them dragging pups across the ice with boat hooks, skinning them alive, and leaving them suffering in agony.

- Scientists worldwide have condemned the Canadian government’s management plan as unsustainable and irresponsible.

- Killing seals is thought to be harmful to fish stocks by disrupting the ecological balance. About 3% of a harp seal’s diet consists of commercially fished cod, but they also eat predators of cod, like squid. Killing off seals means an increase in cod predators.

- The Canadian government clearly states that the killing of harp seals does not help the fish stocks recover, in fact it may impede the recovery of fish stocks.

What can we do as consumers? First, visit http://www.hsus.org/ marine_mammals/protect_seals to sign the pledge, and help demonstrate to the Canadian fishing community that continuing the seal hunt puts at risk the most lucrative parts of its industry. Second, pay attention to where your food comes from! Hopefully you are not eating Atlantic Salmon (aka farm-raised salmon,) which contains known carcinogens and harmful toxin levels, or non-MSC certified Chilean Seabass, an endangered species. Now, add to that list Canadian Seafood. You can feel good about doing your part to help end a very destructive and inhumane practice by taking that one little step in your shopping and eating. The environment, the fish, Dining Details, and especially, the seals, will thank you for it. Information for this article was adapted from the above website.