In early April, the annual Canadian commercial seal hunt commenced off the coast of Newfoundland. And this year, the Canadian government is allowing sealers to kill 500,000 baby harp, hooded and grey seals. The way that these animals are brutalized between the ages of three weeks and three months by shooting, bludgeoning and hooked with a hakapik, is beyond cruel and barbaric.
And even the murders of these innocent animals aside, it also costs the Canadian government more to monitor these hunting activities that what the exports are worth. The Guardian reports:
“Documents obtained under freedom of access laws show that Canada spends around $2.5m a year to monitor seal hunts that occur in the remote north-east. By comparison, the 2014 export figure for seal products was just $500,000.”
It is the hope that the newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his more liberal government will phase out subsides that support the fledgling sealing industry. The Humane Society has even offered to buy up the existing sealing licenses and financially aid fisherman to transition into other areas. But the Canadian government has not come out to say if they would be behind this.
There are only about 400 active sealers left in Canada, down from almost 6,000 in 2006. And the 2009 EU ban on the trade of seal fur, along with the US ban on seal products have hampered this practice even more.
Click here to urge Prime minister Trudeau to end the commercial seal hunt once and for all. Do you support this? Comment below!
Let there be change and stop the brutality of killing of the seals, it is barbaric and inhuman, I thought when you took office there would be change. Imagine your child in front of you being clubbed to death, ice and snow turned to a river of blood of innocent animals, for what, vanity of a fur pelt. Please stop this unnecessary killing. Invite me over from Dallas TX to stop this pain and suffering. I am Mark Seiffert 469-223-3951. I rescue and spay or neuter cats 7 days a week, they get fresh food and water daily. Let me know please. If you are compassionate for refugees you then must be sympathetic to the animals they do not have a voice. You ge their voice, be their advocate. Reach out please