Canada’s Commercial Seal Hunt 5CHAPTER

Rebecca Aldworth and Stephen Harris

Introduction ike efforts to end the commer- A review of the history of the seal cial exploitation from the time of cial hunting of whales, the cam- campaign and the political envi- the first European settlers through Lpaign to stop the slaughter ronment in which it occurred can today. In addition to pinnipeds, sev- of seals in Canada has become a help account for some of these per- eral species of whales, marine birds, major focus for animal and envi- ceptions. It exposes the forces be- and fish have also been driven to ronment protection groups and hind the rejuvenation of commer- the brink of extinction through governments the world over. For cial sealing over the past decade commercial slaughter over the past decades the face of the harp seal and reveals that the price on the four centuries. Pilot whales, once pup has been a symbol—to many, seals’ heads is far greater than that the most common inshore whale the symbol—of environment and which could ever be attached to species in Newfoundland, were animal advocacy. their skins. Moreover, it explains killed en masse, in part to provide But as much as the campaign to why the success—or failure—of meat for mink and fox fur farms, save the seals has become an icon the campaign to save the seals may until the population had become so for those who would protect play a significant role in shaping depleted that hunters could no wildlife, the campaign to continue society’s view of the status of all longer find enough to meet de- the hunt has become a focus for animals. mand (Sanger, Dickinson, and those who would block the Handcock 1998). The bowhead and progress of the animal protection right whales have become endan- and environmental movements. Early Seal Hunting gered species, the grey whale popu- There is little middle ground lation of the North Atlantic no between the two camps, with one in Canada longer exists, and both the hump- Commercial hunting of seals and calling for an immediate cessation back and blue whale are now other pinniped populations has of all commercial hunting of seals threatened species. Great auks, taken place off Canada’s east coast in Canada and the other lobbying flightless aquatic birds once found for hundreds of years. From its very for the highest seal hunt quotas in throughout the North Atlantic, beginnings, this commercial ex- history. Canadian journalists often were hunted for their feathers, oil, ploitation was conducted in an report with incredulity the vast and meat, and their populations entirely unregulated and unsus- gulf between the two sides of this began to decline rapidly in the late tainable fashion, leading to the ex- debate. At the same time, those 1600s. Funk Island, off Newfound- tirpation and severe depletion of working to end the seal hunt note land’s east coast, and the Magdalen several populations (Mowat 1984). the campaign appears far harder Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence The overhunting of pinnipeds did to win than the economic and cul- were once home to large colonies, not occur in isolation; the marine tural importance of the industry but Funk Island’s last bird was environment of the northwestern would seem to warrant. killed between 1785 and 1800, and Atlantic has been systematically the species officially became devastated by relentless commer-

93 extinct in 1844 (Mersereau 2000). a century of historic high levels of Under these conditions, and Industrial fishing has severely killing. Between 1818 and 1862, without imposition of effective depleted numerous ground fish Newfoundlanders killed more than controls, the stock of western stocks, including northern cod, eighteen million seals. Atlantic harp seals must be haddock, redfish, American plaice, Annual catches of harp seals re- considered to be in grave dan- and capelin. mained strong until the 1860s, ger of catastrophic decline in Early European settlers’ first when they finally began to decline as numbers within a very few foray into commercial hunting the unsustainable levels of hunting years. (In Lavigne and Kovacs of pinnipeds off the east coast of took their toll on the population. 1988, 131) Canada was with the walrus. Despite technological advances such Sergeant and Fisher (1960) Throughout the sixteenth and sev- as steam-driven vessels and the use noted that the census figures indi- enteenth centuries, walruses were of aircraft to spot seal herds, kill lev- cated the population had been re- slaughtered relentlessly for their els would never again be as consis- duced by at least 50 percent lucrative oil, leather, and tusks. tently high. Nonetheless, sealers between 1950 and 1960. By 1680 all walruses had been re- continued to slaughter hundreds of moved from the St. Lawrence River; thousands of seals annually, and by those along the north shore of the the turn of the century, another The Campaign Gulf of St. Lawrence were gone by 12.8 million seals had been killed. 1704 (Lavigne and Kovacs 1988). This brought the total seal kill for to Save the Seals The question the seal hunt posed was As the walrus disappeared, grey the century to a staggering 33 mil- not just how seals were killed, but seals quickly became a substitute lion animals, most of them newborn whether they should be killed at all. source for marine oil. For a time, harp seals (Ronald and Lavigne n.d.). —Brian Davies, founder, grey seals became one of the most With the dawn of the twentieth International Fund exploited resources in the New century came the advent of steel- for Animal Welfare World. As with the walruses, they hulled ships, and annual catches were slaughtered by the thou- averaged more than 200,000 per As scientists grew increasingly con- sands, and by the 1860s grey seals year until 1914. But the new ships cerned about unsustainable kill had been wiped out of much of were called into service during levels, Canadians were beginning their former range (Ronald and both world wars, and kill levels dur- to consider the animal welfare im- Lavigne n.d.). ing these years dropped dramati- plications of the seal hunt. Hu- With walruses and grey seal pop- cally (Canadian Geographic 2000). mane societies first sent observers ulations in severe declines, it was Hunt numbers began to increase to the seal hunt during the 1950s, inevitable that hunters would soon again at the end of World War II, and reports of cruelty slowly fil- set their sights on the larger popu- with higher oil prices and the intro- tered out to the public. In 1958 lations of ice-breeding harp and duction of motorized vessels. Albert Perlin, editor of Newfound- hooded seals. These seals spent On average, more than 200,000 land’s Daily News, was interviewed only part of the year in Canadian seals were killed annually through by CBC radio about the sealing waters, breeding on inaccessible 1949. That year the sealing indus- industry. He commented, sea ice, and it is likely they initially try began to restructure. New- The seal fishery was a wasteful escaped the attention of early foundland became a province of industry. It was in many ways hunters. But by the early eigh- Canada, and with that came social an unpleasant industry. I’ve teenth century, both French and benefits that made sealing less nec- heard many a sealer talk about English settlers had begun to hunt essary for economic survival (Cana- the small whitecoats—two or harp and hooded seals commer- dian Broadcasting Company [CBC] three days old—almost look- cially; by the end of the century, 1958). As sealing firms in New- ing up with tears in their eyes British settlers in Newfoundland foundland withdrew from the seal as they killed them...and were killing more than a hundred hunt, companies based in Norway frankly, if it’s an industry we thousand seals in some years (Lav- sent their boats to the ice instead. could do without, I’m not at all igne and Kovacs 1988). Despite the decrease in Newfound- sure—from the standpoint of Over the next hundred years, land interest in the seal hunt, kill humanitarianism alone—it’s advances in technology and vessel levels increased, achieving a 1950s probably a good industry to be construction dramatically increased average of 312,000 seals per year without. (CBC 1958) the number of seals killed in the (Lavigne and Kovacs 1988). In 1964 the seal hunt achieved annual hunt. The year 1818 marks Scientists soon grew concerned widespread notoriety, when a film in- the beginning of the so-called about the high levels of killing. In cluding seal hunt footage was com- Golden Age of Sealing, nearly half 1960 D. Sergeant warned,

94 The State of the Animals IV: 2007 missioned and broadcast by Radio As the cruelty debate raged on, mitting trade restrictions to pro- Canada (the French component of government scientists were continu- tect public morals. One month the CBC). For the first time, the ing to warn that the consistently later the European Parliament stark images of the bloodied new- high kill levels threatened the very effected a temporary ban to last born pups on the white ice floes and survival of the seal populations. In until March 1983. Just before it scenes of seals appearing to be 1971 a quota system was introduced expired, the European Economic skinned alive allowed Canadians to in an attempt to conserve the rap- Community (EEC), predecessor of see what they had occasionally read idly dwindling seal stocks. However, the European Union, extended it about in newspapers. The images the situation continued to worsen, for another six months. Talks on were disturbing, and public reaction and by 1975 a senior Canadian gov- ending the ban took place among was understandably strong. ernment scientist was so concerned Canada, Norway, and the European In 1966 the New Brunswick Soci- about the impact of high levels of Commission, but on October 1, ety for the Prevention of Cruelty to hunting that he suggested the harp 1983, the EEC implemented a two- Animals sent its officer, B. Davies, seal population could be lost in the year ban, then renewed it for to observe the commercial seal absence of a ten-year moratorium another four years in 1985. Since hunt. Davies was profoundly moved on commercial sealing (Lavigne and Europe was the primary market for by what he witnessed, and founded Kovacs 1988). the Canadian sealing industry, kill the International Fund for Animal With Canada showing little will levels in Canada declined dramati- Welfare (IFAW) just three years to even reduce quotas to a more cally (CBC 1982). later, with the goal of ending sustainable level—much less end Still, Canada refused to prohibit Canada’s commercial seal hunt the hunt for humanitarian rea- a practice that was already ending (Lavigne and Kovacs 1988). Im- sons—Davies and his colleagues through lack of markets. IFAW in- pressed by its ability to generate realized public opposition would creased global pressure on the media coverage, Davies also sought not be enough to stop the seal Canadian government and fishing to involve the newly formed organ- hunt. At the time, Europe was industry by launching a boycott of ization Greenpeace in the cam- Canada’s top sealskin market, im- Canadian seafood products in the paign to save seals. Over the com- porting fully three-quarters of the United Kingdom in 1984. The boy- ing years, innovative media events skins produced each year. Davies cott achieved significant corporate on the ice organized by IFAW, argued that Canada’s commercial support, and the campaign con- Greenpeace, and others, and the seal hunt was in reality Europe’s vinced sealing groups to support a support of celebrities such as responsibility, given that Europe moratorium on the hunting of Brigitte Bardot, made the plight of was providing the economic incen- whitecoats. Still, the Canadian the seal pups in Canada an interna- tive for the seal hunt to continue. government refused to give in: it tional lead story. As the public out- A tremendous lobby effort was guaranteed to pay sealers 80 per- cry against the seal hunt echoed waged by IFAW and European ani- cent of the value of the seal pelts around the world, it was clear the mal protection groups. An impres- that year (CBC 1984). global effort to save the seals had sive five million signatures oppos- Clearly, the offer of subsidies was begun in earnest. ing the seal hunt were collected not enough. In 1984 and 1985, be- The messaging of the animal wel- and submitted to the European cause of the European ban on the fare groups working to stop the seal Parliament and British govern- import of whitecoat and blueback hunt largely focused on the objec- ment. By 1982 the public pressure sealskins and the successful British tions to beating newborn pups to was overwhelming, and the Euro- boycott of Canadian fish, there was death in front of their mothers, pean Parliament voted to ban the no large vessel-based commercial along with observer testimony and import of skins from “whitecoats” seal hunt (CBC 1987). Animal pro- veterinary evidence indicating a (newborn harp seal pups under tection groups, confident the significant percentage of the pups about two weeks of age) and “blue- seafood boycott had achieved its were being skinned alive in the backs” (hooded seal pups under goals, suspended the tactic, believ- process (Simpson 1967; Jordan about one year of age). The meas- ing the seal hunt was winding down 1978). Images of newborn seals ure passed, 160 to 10, with 20 ab- and would soon be over for good. staring up at club-wielding sealers stentions, and the issue then went In December 1986 the Royal shocked people around the world, to the European Commission for Commission on Seals and Sealing, and, as the campaign progressed, consideration. In October 1982 a panel that had been set up by the debate was changing from how the commission recommended a the federal government two years many seals should be killed in the temporary import ban based on a earlier, introduced a report in the hunt to whether it was morally clause in the General Agreement House of Commons. Among other acceptable to kill them at all. on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) per- things, the report recommended

Canada’s Commercial Seal Hunt 95 an end to hunting whitecoats. In time: the 1972 U.S. Marine Mam- effective and convincing advo- 1987 large vessel owners prepared mal Protection Act, the 1982 cate for your industry. It can once again to hunt seals. Animal moratorium on commercial whal- evoke powerful archetypes, protection groups reacted quickly, ing, and the 1983 EU ban on trade such as the sanctity of the threatening to move the seafood in products of whitecoat and blue- family, the virtue of the close- boycott into the United States, back seal pups. knit community, the natural the top market for Canadian Even as the environmental move- wisdom of rural dwellers...and seafood. The Canadian govern- ment was making headway, power- it can turn the public against ment responded by banning the ful opponents were surfacing your enemies....I think you’ll use of larger vessels and the in response. Those who stood to find it one of your wisest in- killing of newborn pups at the seal profit from resource exploitation vestments over time. (Gold- hunt in Canadian waters, effec- struck back with an organized force berg 2001, 15) tively ending the large-scale com- that became known as the “wise Soon, environmental and animal mercial seal hunt for several years use” movement. By creating indus- protection groups found them- (CBC 1987). try front groups, using conserva- selves contending with industry- Arguably, this could have been tion language to describe resource funded front groups in virtually the end of commercial sealing in extraction activities, advancing in- every resource-extraction sector Canada if not for two important dustry agendas through appropria- they attempted to influence. It was factors—the collapse of the north- tion of native interests, and pre- in this context that industry and ern cod stock and the rise of the senting environmentalists as self- government-funded sealing advo- “wise use” movement, whose interested profiteers, the wise use cacy groups, including the North strategies were embraced by those movement set out to regain Atlantic Marine Mammal Commis- promoting commercial exploita- ground. sion (NAMMCO), the World Coun- tion of marine mammals. In 1988 a conference was organ- cil of Whalers (WCW), the High ized by the Center for the Defense North Alliance (HNA), and the of Free Enterprise (CDFE), led by IWMC World Conservation Trust The Rise of an active opponent of the environ- were established. Notably, the mental movement, R. Arnold. The Canadian government counseled, the Wise Use conference drew industry leaders participated in, and funded these Movement from the United States and organizations (Goldberg 2001). Our goal is to destroy, to eradicate Canada, and the outcome was a NAMMCO was created in 1992 the environmental movement.... “wise use agenda” signed by all by four pro-whaling nations (the We’re mad as hell. We’re not going participants. But while the objec- Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, to take it anymore. We’re dead tives of the wise use agenda (in- and Norway) that were dissatisfied serious—we’re going to destroy cluding clear-cutting of old growth with the International Whaling them. We want to be able to ex- forests and weakening of endan- Commission’s (IWC) global mora- ploit the environment for private gered species legislation) were torium on commercial whaling. gain, absolutely. controversial, it was the strategies NAMMCO positions itself as a sci- —Ron Arnold, executive vice laid out by the “wise users” to ence-based and responsible alter- president, Center for the Defense achieve their goals that were the native to the IWC and a recognized of Free Enterprise (Arnold 1995) most troubling to environmental international management body. groups. However, its membership is re- During the second half of the One of the key tactics promoted stricted to whaling and sealing twentieth century, the environ- by the wise use movement to interests, and experts view it as an mental movement was fast chang- counter environmental campaigns organization working to promote a ing from a fringe interest into a was the creation of “front” groups— wise use agenda (Goldberg 2001). politically powerful entity. During industry advocacy organizations In 1997 Canada played host to a this time leading environmental positioned as public interest NAMMCO meeting, “Sealing the organizations such as Greenpeace groups. Arnold advised, Future.” The conference, which in- were established, and, as public The public is completely con- cluded representatives of the Cana- support for the movement grew, vinced that when you speak as dian government, resulted in a key environmental defense poli- an industry you are speaking press release demanding the elim- cies were successfully adopted. out of nothing but self-inter- ination of “WTO incompatible seal Three of the most important victo- est... The pro-industry citizen product trade barriers” (North ries in the protection of marine activist group is the answer to Atlantic Marine Mammal Commis- mammals happened during this these problems. It can be an sion 1997, n.p).

96 The State of the Animals IV: 2007 While NAMMCO positions itself Canadian Government, in their decimated by outside intrud- as an international management struggle against the anti-sealing ers....As a result, the resource- authority, other wise use groups protest industry” (Lapointe 2005, extracting culture withered define themselves as conservation n.p.). This, and the other seal con- and its suicide rate skyrock- bodies. On its website (www.iwmc. tent on the IWMC website, is a eted as helpless people felt the org), the IWMC World Conservation good example of wise use messag- unreasoning hatred of well-fed Trust (formerly known as the Inter- ing, branding the campaign to constituencies in the domi- national Wildlife Management Con- defend the seal hunt as “sustain- nant urban culture. http:// sortium, or IWMC) calls itself a able use” and the campaign to end www.eskimo.com/~rarnold/ “global coalition of experts and it as “eco-terror.” The IWMC site seal_hunt.htm. wildlife managers promoting the defines groups working to end the Notably, the commercial seal conservation of habitat and wildlife seal hunt as “extreme,” “radical,” hunt in Canada is conducted resources,” and asks people to and “vicious,” and the individuals almost entirely by non-aboriginal “donate now to protect the world’s who oppose the seal hunt as misin- people from Canada’s east coast, wildlife for future generations.” In formed, wealthy urbanites with lit- and the traditional value of sealing light of this, the public would per- tle understanding of, or concern to native communities has been in haps be surprised to learn that for, rural lifestyles. subsistence hunts, which by defini- IWMC’s Canadian founder and pres- Another common wise use strat- tion are not affected by global seal ident, E. Lapointe, is a paid lobbyist egy emerged in the 1980s: the use product trade. According to P. for countries seeking to reopen the of public sympathy for traditional, Hollingsworth, an Ojibwa and trade in endangered species (Vidal subsistence aboriginal lifestyles to founder of the Native Animal Broth- 2004). Having previously worked defend commercial trade in erhood, it is resource extraction in- with the Canadian government for wildlife parts. An employee of the dustries that are leading to the fourteen years, Lapointe served as Canadian Department of Indian demise of native culture. secretary general of the Convention and Northern Affairs and senior He noted, on International Trade in Endan- Canadian government advisor, Indigenous survival is not syn- gered Species (CITES) between B. Roberts, explained the tactic at onymous with Canada’s fur 1982 and 1990, a position from a whaling conference in Iceland as trade. Quite the opposite is which he was dismissed under con- he outlined successful strategies true. History has shown that troversial circumstances when he used to counter anti-sealing the commercial fur trade in- campaigned against a ban on the groups. He said, dustry actively promoted the ivory trade. He later received a set- The first step was to neutral- disintegration of our culture, tlement after the UN found that his ize the appeal of the animal a process which continues dismissal was “arbitrary and capri- protection lobby. To accom- to this day. (Global Action cious,” and he now advises several plish this it was necessary to Network n.d). nations, including Canada, on how mount an equally emotionally Regardless, the perception that to avoid animal trade legislation powerful counter-appeal. This ending the commercial seal hunt legally (Vidal 2004). Five of the nine counter-appeal was based would have a devastating impact officers in his organization are for- on the survival needs of abo- on native communities prevails, mer CITES employees, and La- riginal communities which de- and hardships faced by Canadian pointe states that his funding pended upon the continued aboriginals remain one of the most comes from Canada, China, Japan, taking of fur-bearing animals. compelling arguments in support Norway, and "two small European (Schmidt 1999, 7) of the hunt. As CDFE’s founder countries" (Russell 2002). The Center for the Defense of Arnold stated in 1991, “Facts don’t In addition to advocating trophy Free Enterprise (2006), consid- matter. In politics, perception is hunts for elephants, reopening the ered a leading wise use group, uses reality” (Krakauer 1991, 70). international ivory trade, and a re- this tactic to support the seal While these and other wise use turn to commercial whaling, the hunt. The CDFE website includes a tactics helped seal hunt propo- IWMC strongly supports the Cana- statement that, without providing nents lay the foundation for a re- dian seal hunt. In an open letter any substantiating evidence, turn to industrial-scale commer- entitled “Seal War,” which was attempts to blame economic hard- cial sealing, it was the cod collapse posted on the IWMC website in ships and even suicide rates in off the east coast of Canada in the 2005, Lapointe urged organiza- native communities on the col- 1990s that provided the political tions to join a “Sustainable Use lapse of the commercial sealing in- impetus for the Canadian govern- Coalition to support the Canadian dustry in the 1980s: ment to act. Sealers and Fishermen and the The Canadian seal hunt was

Canada’s Commercial Seal Hunt 97 the Europeans were gone it would through eastern Canada and The Collapse of come to the Canadians” (McK- within the DFO bureaucracy itself. Northern Cod ibben 1998, 64). The collapse of the cod stocks was Throughout the next decade, the due to over-fishing. It had nothing to Canadian government paid little A Lethal do with the environment and noth- heed to the concerns of inshore ing to do with seals. fishermen who were noticing a Combination Mr. Speaker, I would like to see the —Ransom Myers, former serious decrease in their catches 6 million seals, or whatever num- Canadian Department of and the size of the individual ber is out there, killed and sold, or Fisheries and Oceans scientist northern cod. They continued to destroyed and burned. I do not care set unsustainable quotas until it what happens to them...the more Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, was evident the northern cod pop- they kill the better I will love it. Canada’s fishing industry devel- ulation could withstand no more —John Efford, Newfoundland oped new technologies. With huge (Harris 1998). By the 1990s, with Minister of Fisheries nets, industrial fishing vessels northern cod stocks at only 1 per- and Aquaculture, 1998 could haul up as much as two hun- cent of their historic levels, it was dred tons of fish in one hour, twice clear decades of overfishing had re- When the 1992 cod moratorium the amount a typical sixteenth- sulted in an ecological catastro- was announced, optimistic politi- century boat would have caught in phe. In 1992 a moratorium was cians predicted it would be over an entire season. Cod catches in- declared on cod fishing; un- within a few years. But informed creased steadily over the 1950s fortunately, by then, many believe scientists were already stating it and 1960s, from a yearly average of it was already too late (Woodard would take at least a decade before 250,000 tons to a peak of 800,000 2001). the cod could be expected to recover tons in 1968 (Brubaker 2000). The public demanded to know (Myers, Mertz, and Fowlow 1997). At the time, foreign fishing fleets how Department of Fisheries and As the years went by, it was clear were taking the lion’s share of the Oceans (DFO) scientists could have the cod were not coming back, fish caught off the east coast of missed the obvious signs of a de- and the Canadian government be- Canada. They took not only the clining population, when inshore gan to look at ways to appease the cod, but the main food source for fishermen had been predicting the east coast fishing industry. the cod, capelin, as well. It was no collapse for decades. As tens of In October 1995 B. Tobin, then surprise that the northern cod thousands of Atlantic Canadians Canadian fisheries minister, along stock was diminishing under the lost a primary source of income, with the fisheries ministers from double threat of a decreasing food the DFO offered up various expla- Iceland, Norway, Russia, and the supply and overfishing (Tsoa nations, from foreign fishing fleets Faroe Islands and a representative 1996). to changing ocean temperatures. from Greenland, signed a state- By 1977 the decrease in ground Despite a consensus among the sci- ment declaring seals “a conserva- fish stocks had become so evident entific community to the contrary, tion problem” in parts of the North that Canada imposed a two hun- seal predation was at the top of the Atlantic Ocean (Department of dred-mile limit off its coast as a DFO’s list (Lavigne 1995). Fisheries and Oceans 1995, n.p.). means of stopping the foreign fish- Given the residual resentment The statement concluded, “there ing fleets. Regrettably, instead of surrounding the EU sealskin ban is a need to reduce the sizes of the using the new protected zone to re- and the boycott of Canadian seal herds...through expanded duce fishing and allow fish stocks seafood, the failure of the cod commercial harvests where possi- to rebuild, Canadian fishing com- stocks to recover, and the preva- ble.” Only the EU dissented. panies saw a chance to increase lent myth that seals harm fish While informed cynics saw the their own take. In what many envi- stocks, seals were a perfect scape- move as an attempt to justify com- ronmentalists see as a conserva- goat for dwindling fish stocks. Gov- mercial sealing and placate fisher- tion betrayal, Canadian fishing ernment and independent scien- men in the wake of the cod collapse, fleets dramatically increased the tists argued that only 3 percent of Canadian media provided mislead- size of their catches, and in New- a harp seal’s diet consists of north- ing legitimacy to the minister’s foundland the number of regis- ern cod, and that harp seals also statement. The Canadian press tered fishers increased by 41 consume many significant cod falsely stated that “federal research percent (Blake n.d.). Fisheries biol- predators (Lavigne 1995). But has linked seals to a decline in cod ogist Richard Haedrich elaborated: their advice went unheard, and stocks” (Lavigne 1996a, 57). The “The idea was that the streets were calls for a seal cull echoed loudly Department of Fisheries and paved with fish and that now that

98 The State of the Animals IV: 2007 Oceans’ website homepage at the 1995 Stock Status Report on Gulf their populations to declining fish time stated, “Harp seals are one of of St. Lawrence ground fish, indi- stocks (Department of Fisheries the factors inhibiting groundfish cating seal predation was unlikely and Oceans 2004). recovery” (Lavigne 1995). In reality, to be responsible for cod mortality the Canadian government’s own sci- trends, were allegedly removed entists had repeatedly concluded from the published version, con- Trading Quotas the depletion of fish stocks had trary to scientific advice. nothing to do with seals (House A hearing was convened in the for Votes In 1997, despite the information of Commons Standing Committee House of Commons Standing Com- exposed in the House of Commons on Fisheries and Oceans 1997). mittee on Fisheries and Oceans to inquiry and media, the use of seals Regardless, a public relations foun- hear testimony regarding the re- as a scapegoat for fisheries mis- dation was clearly being laid for reju- port. Witnesses described an estab- management continued. New- venation of the commercial seal lished pattern at DFO of intimidat- foundland’s fisheries minister, J. hunt in Canada. It came as little sur- ing researchers, repressing sci- Efford, crisscrossed the nation to prise to animal protection groups entific uncertainty about stock lev- convince Canadians of the need for when, in 1996, Tobin announced a els, censoring or rewriting reports, an expanded seal hunt. “The prob- massive federal subsidy for sealers failing to collect or use relevant lem is that seals eat fish. They do (Lavigne 1996b). Hunt numbers ex- data, hiding data from researchers, not eat Kentucky Fried Chicken. I ceeded 240,000 seals that year and barring scientists from speaking to don’t need to be a genius or a have remained high ever since. the media or to colleagues about rocket scientist to figure that out,” their findings, threatening to with- he informed audiences (Luksic hold research funding to universi- 1998, n.p.). ties whose staff criticize DFO, and The Politics of It is perhaps ironic that Efford threatening to sue DFO critics was blaming seals for the vanished Conservation (Goldberg 2001, 3). The following year some clarity was cod just as the House of Commons R. Myers, a former DFO fisheries finally provided on the seals and inquiry was exposing what appeared scientist, was called to testify. He cod question when two former DFO to be a DFO agenda to scapegoat described being tasked by the DFO scientists, including J. Hutchings, seals for the cod collapse. Around bureaucracy to conduct research published “Is Scientific Inquiry In- the same time, F. Mifflin, B. Tobin’s “examining the mortality of cod compatible with Government Infor- successor as Canadian fisheries relating to seals to counter argu- mation Control?” (Hutchings, Wal- minister, was telling the public that ments by animal rights people that ters, and Haedrich 1997). It the cod stocks were recovering. one could never detect such an indicated a tradition of suppression In a 1996 press release, Mifflin event.” Myers noted, “We found of scientific information at DFO stated, “Declines in stocks have out we could not detect the effect and cited numerous examples stopped...there are indications that of seals with the data we had. of DFO scientists warning that some stocks are rebuilding” (De- Because we did not show what was ground fish stocks were in a dan- partment of Fisheries and Oceans desired by Ottawa bureaucrats, gerous decline; these findings were 1996, n.p.). In a controversial move, that research was suppressed” (in either ignored or suppressed as just ten days before the 1997 fed- House of Commons Standing Com- high quotas continued to be allo- eral election was called, Mifflin mittee on Fisheries and Oceans cated. The authors suggested, “The announced that six thousand tons 1997, n.p.). conservation of natural resources is of cod could be taken from the Though Myers and other wit- not facilitated by science inte- northern Gulf of St. Lawrence and nesses provided suggestions for grated within a political body” off the west coast of Newfoundland, improvements to DFO, the hearing (Goldberg 2001, 3). and ten thousand tons could in the House Standing Committee According to the authors, gov- be taken from the southern New- on Fisheries and Oceans resulted ernment interference was not re- foundland coast (Department of in little concrete change at DFO stricted to reports on fish stocks. Fisheries and Oceans 1997). (Goldberg 2001). A decade later Just as evidence suggesting a pend- Meanwhile, attempts by the DFO bottom trawling and other destruc- ing collapse of cod stocks was sup- to prove seal predation was leading tive technologies were still estab- pressed, so, too, was information to increased cod mortality were lished practices in Canada’s fishing that did not support the govern- falling far short of their goals industry (Canadian Broadcasting ment agenda to scapegoat seals; (House of Commons Standing Corporation News 2006b), and the authors pointed out that state- Committee on Fisheries and seals remained the focus of inten- ments in the original draft of the Oceans 1997). Nevertheless, a Par- sive studies that attempt to link

Canada’s Commercial Seal Hunt 99 liamentary advisory group, the Biologists overestimated size of bad ice conditions. In 1998 and Fisheries Resource Conservation of stocks. Managers proposed 2000, they estimated that one- Council (FRCC), advised in a 1999 quotas that did not allow for quarter of the pups died due to lack report that the seal herds be re- natural large declines in popu- of ice before the hunt began (IFAW duced by up to 50 percent of their lations, and they consistently 2006a). current levels, stating, “action set quotas that were higher In 2005 S. Dion, Canada’s envi- must be taken immediately to im- than what the biologists pro- ronment minister, spoke at the prove opportunities for the conser- posed. Fishermen lobbied hard United Nations Climate Change vation and recovery of cod and for greater access.... Conference and warned, “Reduc- other groundfish stocks, without Berrill was referring to the col- tions in sea ice will drastically waiting for absolute scientific proof lapse of northern cod in the New- shrink marine habitat for polar of the effects of seal predation” foundland fishery, but the words bears, ice-inhabiting seals, and [emphasis added] (Fisheries Re- could apply equally to seals today. some seabirds, pushing some source Conservation Council Scientists argue the current Cana- species toward extinction” (Dion 1999, 11). dian seal hunt management plan 2005, n.p.). The same year, G. By 2003 it was clear the contro- poses a renewed threat to the sur- Regan, Canada’s minister of fish- versial new cod fishing zones had to vival of seal populations, particularly eries and oceans, allowed sealers to be closed permanently. The FRCC in light of the pending effects of cli- reach one of the highest quotas for distributed a press release calling mate change on the habitats of ice-dependent harp seals in history. for the government to cull seals as a these ice-dependent animals. They Animal protection groups note means to help cod stocks rebuild, suggest that DFO’s population mod- that, in addition to its effects and, in the run-up to another federal eling may be overestimating harp on marine mammal populations, election, fisheries minister R. seal numbers (Harris, Sousbury, and Canada’s commercial seal hunt in- Thibault announced the highest Iossa 2005) and note that Canada volves a well-documented and unac- quota for harp seals in history; and Greenland both hunt the same ceptable level of cruelty. In 2001 an Canada would allow nearly one mil- population of harp seals but do not international team of veterinarians, lion seal pups to be slaughtered over cooperate in setting quotas. including American, British, and the next three years (Department of Perhaps these factors would be Canadian experts, observed the Fisheries and Oceans 2003). less alarming, were it not for the commercial seal hunt. The team pending effects of climate change studied the seal hunt from the ice on harp and hooded seals and other and from the air and performed The Expanded ice associated animals. In a 2005 postmortems on seal carcasses report, Johnston et al. (2005) con- abandoned on the ice. Their report Seal Hunt cluded that reduced ice cover in concluded the Canadian commer- Last year in the seal management the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off cial seal hunt results in ”consider- plan I used a flexible approach....I Newfoundland and Labrador during able and unacceptable suffering” introduced a three-year manage- the breeding season may represent and noted in 42 percent of cases ment plan of 975,000 seals. It will a serious environmental challenge studied, the seals did not show mean a reduction for the first time for harp and hooded seals, which enough evidence of cranial injury in the herd. require an ice platform for whelp- to even guarantee unconsciousness —R. Thibault, Canadian ing and nursing. The report noted at the time of skinning (Burdon et Minister of Fisheries that, in six of the previous seven al. 2001). and Oceans, 2003 years (1996–2002), ice cover on M. Richardson, a Canadian vet- the east coast of Canada was signif- erinary expert in humane slaughter With more than one million seals icantly below the seasonal average and the former chairwoman of the killed between 2003 and 2006, for the period 1983–2002, and in Animal Care Review Board for the Canada’s commercial seal hunt has poor ice years, ice cover in some Solicitor General of Ontario, con- become by far the largest slaughter regions was up to 60 percent less tends the seal hunt is inherently of marine mammals on Earth. The than the yearly average observed inhumane because of the environ- 2006 kill levels met and even between 1969 and 2002 (John- ment in which it operates (off- exceeded those of the 1950s and ston et al. 2005). In 1981 and shore, on unstable ice floes, often 1960s, when scientists argued 2002, both poor ice years, Cana- in extreme weather conditions) and overhunting threatened the North- dian government scientists esti- the speed at which it must be con- west Atlantic harp seal population. mated that three-quarters of the ducted to be commercially viable In The Plundered Seas, M. Berrill pups born in the Gulf of St. (hundreds of thousands of animals (1997, 120) stated, Lawrence died as a consequence are killed over just a few days)

100 The State of the Animals IV: 2007 Europe, where they are tanned and Figure 1 resold in fashion markets. Canadian sealers are commercial Age of Harp Seals fishermen from Canada’s east coast Slaughtered (2001–2006) who participate in several commer- cial fisheries throughout the year. 400000 Government data show they earn on average less than 5 percent of their 350000 total annual incomes from sealing. The rest is from commercial fish- 300000 eries such as crab, shrimp, and lob- ster (Linzey 2006). This analysis is 250000 supported by quotes from sealers in media reports (Warne 2004). 200000 Even in Newfoundland, where more than 90 percent of sealers live, 150000 sealing income accounts for less than .1 percent of the gross domes- 100000 tic product. Economists note the Number of Harp Seals Killed few million dollars the sealing indus- 50000 try brings in each year are offset by the high level of government sup- 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 port it receives. As a whole, the seal- Year ing industry received more than $20 Number of seals killed Number of seals killed million in government subsidies over 3 months old under 3 months old between 1995 and 2001, according to a report by the Canadian Institute Source data: Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans harp seal landings reports. for Business and the Environment (Gallon 2001). (Richardson 2005). In 2005 D. publicity. The sealing industry has In contrast to the relatively mar- Broom of the University of Cam- found some success in marketing ginal economic contribution it bridge and S. Cheetham, chief vet- seal oil, but most of it is sold as an makes, animal protection groups erinary officer of the British Royal industrial lubricant, and seal-pro- argue the commercial seal hunt Society for the Prevention of Cru- cessing plant price lists show sales of causes significant damage to elty to Animals (RSPCA), reported seal oil constitute a small amount of Canada’s international reputation on footage of the Canadian seal the total income generated by the and to Canadian businesses. hunt, noting the prolonged suffer- seal hunt (Carino Company Limited ing of the animals and the inability 2005). Millions of dollars in direct of the sealers to provide an accept- subsidies were provided to the seal- The Renewed Fight ably humane death to the pups ing industry through the late 1990s (Broom 2005; Cheetham 2005). to try to develop markets for seal to Save Seals We are absolutely committed to Over six years (2001–2006), virtu- meat. However, this endeavor failed, making sure this is the last slaugh- ally all of the seals killed (97 per- with products such as seal pepper- ter of baby seals in Canada anyone cent) were less than three months oni finding limited acceptance. will ever have to witness. old, and most were under one Despite the millions of dollars in —Paul McCartney, March 2006 month (Figure 1). The pups in government subsidies for product Canada were killed almost exclu- development and marketing, seal Throughout the mid- to late 1990s, sively for their fur. Attempts have carcasses are almost always left to animal protection groups around the been made over the years to develop rot on the ice floes, and Canadian world were slowly becoming aware of other products, with varying degrees government officials define the com- the steadily rising seal hunt quotas of success. For a short time in the mercial seal hunt as “primarily a fur in Canada. One after another, organ- mid-1990s, seal organs brought in a hunt” (Standing Committee on izations launched renewed cam- significant percentage of total seal Fisheries and Oceans 2006). The paigns—this time to put a “final hunt revenues, though that market skins are shipped, largely in a raw end” to the Canadian seal hunt. either closed down or was driven (unprocessed) state, directly to underground in the wake of negative

Canada’s Commercial Seal Hunt 101 During those years it became evi- that overhunting in the 1950s and It was in this challenging environ- dent that the animal protection 1960s had reduced the population ment that animal protection groups community had in some ways be- by as much as two-thirds by the managed to bring the campaign to come a victim of its own success in early 1970s. Animal protection save the seals once again to the fore- the seal campaign. Opinion polls groups argued that what was in real- front of the public consciousness. showed the public was largely ity a recovery from a dangerously Throughout the 1990s organiza- unaware the seal hunt was even low level was being misleadingly tions worked on a variety of fronts to going on (Angus Reid Group represented by the Canadian gov- end the seal hunt in Canada. Paid 1997), with many believing it had ernment as a population explosion. advertisements educated Canadians ended for good in the 1980s. Inflations of the economic value about the humane, conservation, Environment and animal protec- of the seal hunt were persistent in and economic aspects of the com- tion organizations argue incomplete the DFO messaging. In its 200l mercial seal hunt. Grass-roots initia- and misleading information provided Facts about Seals, the DFO (2001) tives organized by animal protection by the Canadian government only claimed, “The seal hunt provides groups resulted in protests across helped to confuse the matter. valuable income to about 12,000 the country, and tens of thousands Though government kill reports sealers and their families in eastern of Canadians contacted their politi- clearly showed most of the seals Canada.” However, in the same year, cal representatives to express their killed in the hunt at the time were the executive director of the Cana- opposition to the seal hunt. Govern- pups just days or weeks of age, the dian Sealers Association stated at a ment relations campaigns put the DFO asserted that hunting baby sealing conference, commercial seal hunt onto the seals was illegal in Canada, restrict- In Newfoundland, we have agendas of Canadian politicians. ing its definition of “baby seal” to the 11,000+ licensed sealers with Scientific studies raised serious newborn (whitecoat) harp seals pro- approximately 2,500 of them questions about the sustainability of tected in Canada from commercial active in any given year. Sealing the Canadian government seal hunt hunting as of 1987. In Facts about licenses are not expensive to management plan. Seals, the DFO (2000, n.p.) stated, buy—they cost $5.00 a year. During this time some advances “Young harp seals are independent The reason for the large num- were made in the campaign. The and completely self-reliant two or ber of licenses vis-à-vis the Canadian government reevaluated three weeks after birth.” Animal pro- smaller number of active seal- some of its estimates of the numbers tection groups claimed the DFO ers is the fact that if they do not of seals actually killed during the position was misleading and inaccu- renew their license in any given Canadian seal hunt, and the new cal- rate. They noted that seals can be year, they will not be eligible in culations were incorporated into legally hunted in Canada as young as the following year. (Greenland management plans. Canada began twelve days old, when they begin to Home Rule 2001, 57) to relax its arguably unlawful restric- shed their white fur, and that most of In Six Facts about Canada’s Seal tions on seal hunt observers, which the seals killed are less than three Hunt, the DFO (2005b) attributed had previously made it very difficult months of age. The groups argued a value of $40 million for the Cana- to obtain footage of the seal hunt. that, at the young age they are dian seal hunt, a figure several Possibly in response to opinion polls slaughtered, the pups have poorly times greater than the amount gov- showing the majority of Canadians, developed swimming skills and many ernment landings reports show was including Newfoundlanders, opposed have not yet eaten solid food, leaving actually paid to sealers that year. government subsidies to the seal them defenseless against the The DFO claimed the $40 million hunt (Angus Reid Group 1997), hunters. Organizations pointed out figure was provided by the Cana- direct subsidies to sealers were that public opinion polling in 1997 dian Sealers Association (CSA), but phased out before 2000. showed 85 percent of Canadians neither the DFO nor the CSA was However, the Canadian govern- believed seal pups less than one year able to provide any substantiating ment continued to expand the seal- of age should be protected from evidence. Regardless, the figure ing industry, and despite the best hunting (Angus Reid Group 1997). continued as of late 2006 to appear intentions of the animal protection Animal protection groups main- prominently on the DFO website. groups, kill levels continued to tained that DFO information re- As the years progressed, it became increase...with one notable excep- garding the size of the harp seal clear that animal and environment tion. In 2000, with the direct meat population was equally misleading. protection groups were opposing subsidy to sealers eliminated, the kill Department publications consis- more than the sealing industry in level dramatically declined, to under tently referred to the harp seal pop- their campaign to stop the seal 100,000 animals. Animal protection ulation as being “triple” what it was hunt—they were up against the full groups hoped, perhaps naively, that in the 1970s, neglecting to mention force of the Canadian government. the hunt was finally beginning to

102 The State of the Animals IV: 2007 wind down in favor of less controver- Fisheries and Oceans and animal About two-thirds of Canadian sial economic opportunities. protection groups, government offi- seafood is exported every year to Unfortunately, the reprieve was cials said that the only environment the United States, generating brief. Some argue the subsidies were in which the seal hunt could end nearly $3 billion for the Canadian never really removed but rather would be if Canada’s fishing indus- economy annually (Department of driven underground by negative try demanded it. This was likely due Fisheries and Oceans 2005a). This publicity. Seal hunt numbers began to the close ties between the Cana- made the United States an obvious to climb again in the following year, dian sealing and fishing industries; initial focus for the campaign to and in 2002 more than 300,000 Canadian sealers are commercial boycott Canadian seafood. With its seals were killed, the highest kill fishermen who hunt seals in the off- millions of members and con- level in thirty-five years. season, and fisheries unions repre- stituents across the United States, April 2004 marked a turning sent sealers (Fish, Food, and Allied The Humane Society of the United point in the campaign, when The Workers Union 2001). States (HSUS) was in a natural posi- New York Times featured the seal Thus, following decades of unsuc- tion to lead the effort. hunt controversy on its front page cessful negotiations with the Cana- The HSUS launched the seafood (Krauss 2004). In the weeks that fol- dian government, a network of some boycott in the United States on lowed, major media outlets all over of the world’s most influential ani- March, 29, 2005, the opening day of the globe, including those through- mal protection groups created an the 2005 commercial seal hunt. As out Canada, the United States, economic incentive for the Cana- of mid-2006, The HSUS reported Europe, Australia, South America, dian fishing industry to act. Noting more than 330,000 Americans and and Asia, covered the story. In the the success of the 1980s seafood more than one thousand major second year of the “million seal boycott in changing Canadian gov- restaurants, grocery stores, and quota,” the world was finally becom- ernment policy on the seal hunt, the seafood wholesalers in the United ing aware that Canada’s seal hunt network, which represents tens States pledged not to buy Canadian was back and twice as large as when of millions of people worldwide, de- seafood until the seal hunt is ended animal protection groups first cam- clared a boycott of Canadian for good. Since the boycott was paigned to stop it. seafood products until the seal hunt launched, official government trade However, rather than working to is permanently ended (HSUS 2005). statistics through July 2006 showed end the hunt in the wake of the the value of Canadian snow crab—a negative publicity, the Canadian government stepped up its defense and promotion of the sealing indus- Figure 2 try, allocating the highest quotas Decline in Value of Canadian Snow for harp seals in history. Animal protection groups countered with Crab Exports to the United States a hard-hitting strategy to increase Total value of Canadian snow crab exports to the United States down 34 percent (CDN$290 million) since the ProtectSeals seafood boycott began. economic pressure on the Cana- dian fishing industry—a boycott of $1,000,000,000 Canadian seafood products. $852,854,151

$800,000,000 The Canadian $563,185,784 Seafood Boycott $600,000,000 The message is simple; it will be heard across the world. If you oppose Canada’s merciless slaugh- $400,000,000 ter of baby seals, don’t buy Cana- dian seafood products. —Wayne Pacelle, President Value in Canadian Dollars $200,000,000 and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, press conference, 2005 $0 Pre-BoycottApril 2005 Onward = Boycott

In November 2004, in a meeting Source: Canadian international trade data from Statistics Canada through between Canada’s Department of July 2006 (HS 03.06.14.10).

Canada’s Commercial Seal Hunt 103 primary focus of the boycott—ex- restaurants that formerly bought cease this cruel practice, which is ports to the United States had de- Canadian shrimp are now asking unbecoming of a civilized nation. clined by nearly $300 million (Figure for the more expensive Greenland —2004 Motion for 2). While animal protection groups variety because of the boycott. a Recommendation, have never claimed the boycott is While the seafood boycott puts submitted to the Council of the only reason for the decline, economic pressure on the Cana- Europe by Claudio Azzolini, they viewed it as a significant fac- dian government and fishing indus- Italian foreign minister tor (HSUS 2006). try to end the seal hunt, closing the The Canadian government global markets for seal products is The 1980s European Union Direc- denied the seafood boycott had starting to remove the primary in- tive prohibiting the trade in prod- had any impact, blaming the de- centive for sealers to hunt seals. ucts derived from newborn (white- crease in the value of Canadian coat) harp seals and young snow crab exports to the United (blueback) hooded seals brought States on market conditions and Global Markets Canada’s commercial seal hunt to a competition from other countries. virtual standstill for a number of However, in July 2006 Greenland’s for Seal Products years (Figure 3). But while the Grønlandsposten reported the Begin to Close intent of the legislation was to boycott of Canadian seafood had The Assembly undertakes to pro- decrease demand for products of directly affected Royal Green- mote in every forum regulatory ini- seal pups (and thus the incentive land’s sales of Canadian seafood in tiatives aimed at prohibiting the for sealers to hunt them), Canadian the United States (AG/Grønland- import and use of seals or seal sealers simply began to kill the pups sposten 2006). Royal Greenland, parts....The Assembly also asks the when they were just a few days older the world’s largest distributor of Committee of Ministers and the (Figure 1). Today, the skins of these cold water shrimp, said its client parliaments of the Member States young seals are legally traded in to exert pressure on the Canadian many parts of Europe (Figure 4). Government and Parliament to

Figure 3 Total Reported Kill of Harp Seals in the Northwest Atlantic, 1952–2006 500,000 Number of Harp Seal Kills 450,000

400,000

350,000

300,000

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000 0

1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 Year Note: Includes Canadian commercial seal hunt and Arctic and Greenland harp seal catches. Catches for Greenland are estimated for 2005 and 2006. Canadian catch for 2006 is preliminary. Sources: Graph courtesy of S. Fink; data updated from: Stenson (2005).

104 The State of the Animals IV: 2007 which they perceive as inhumane, Figure 4 their next target will be aboriginal hunters” (in Minogue 2006, n.p.). Canadian Exports of Sealskins On February 3, 2006, a leading to Europe, 2004 Newfoundland newspaper reported that several high-level officials with Exports of Raw and Unassembled Tanned Sealskins = 272,362 Pelts the Inuit Circumpolar Conference and the government of Nunavut met Greenland 16% with Greenland officials to present the “Canadian argument” on the matter (Baker 2006). On March 24 a high-level delegation from Canada went to Greenland to discuss trade opportunities between the two countries. The delegation included F. Gregory, Canada’s ambassador to Denmark; J. Anawak, Canada’s ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs; and G. Beaupré, director general of Norway 53% EU15 30% International Affairs, Fisheries, and EU New 10 Oceans Canada. While no specific 1% mention of lobbying against the Source: Eurostat and Statistics Canada. sealskin decision was made, the pub- lished trip itinerary shows meetings As Canada’s commercial seal Canada’s commercial seal hunt between the senior Canadian dele- hunt once again achieved interna- (Danish Broadcasting Corporation gates and Greenland’s premier and tional notoriety in 2004, interna- 2006a). Just twenty-three hours minister of Fisheries and Hunting tional governments began to act after the footage was aired, Green- (Greenland Home Rule 2006a). on behalf of their citizens to put an land Prime Minister H. Enoksen Within weeks, the Greenland Home end to their trade in all harp and announced to the Danish and Rule government sent out a media hooded seal products. Belgium was Greenlandic media that his cabinet advisory announcing it would once the first country to take action, had decided to stop all of the Great again allow Great Greenland to adopting a legislative proposal in Greenland Company’s trade in trade in Canadian sealskins (Green- May 2004 to ban the import/ Canadian sealskins (Danish Broad- land Home Rule 2006b). export and marketing of all seal casting Corporation 2006b). Danish parliamentarians quickly products (Fink 2006). Soon other The decision removed an impor- urged Greenland to reconsider, not- nations began to act as well; Croa- tant market for Canada’s commer- ing any resumption in trade of Cana- tia, Luxembourg, Mexico, and the cial seal hunt; in 2004 and 2005, dian sealskins could severely damage Netherlands had all either ended Canadian government trade statis- Greenland’s sealing industry (Green- their trade in seal products or had tics revealed that Greenland had land National Broadcasting Company initiated campaigns to do so by imported more than ninety thou- 2006). Denmark’s foreign office then 2006 (IFAW 2006b). sand Canadian sealskins. announced it would investigate the The Canadian government and fur potential for a Danish ban on trade in industry reacted strongly. A. Her- Canadian sealskins. While the Green- Initial Support scovici of the Fur Council of Canada land government had lifted its order weighed in on the topic in Nunatsiaq for Great Greenland to stop trading from Greenland News, sending a clear message to in Canadian sealskins, as of mid- On January 5, 2006, footage Greenland. According to Herscovici, 2006 it remained uncertain whether obtained by The HSUS of the 2005 the Greenland government would Great Greenland would actually commercial seal hunt was broadcast “only hurt themselves if they try resume the trade. on Danish and Greenland national to distance their seal hunting Such a move would likely be met television stations. Public and gov- from images of clubbed baby seals with strong opposition from the ani- ernment reaction was strong and in Atlantic Canada.” He continued, mal protection community and the swift, with Danish animal protection “[I]f they [animal protection Danish public and government. The groups and parliamentarians pub- groups] are successful in stop- point, however, already may be moot. licly stating their opposition to ping the Atlantic Canada hunt, Many of the sealskins imported by

Canada’s Commercial Seal Hunt 105 Greenland from Canada are reex- to be used for a sealing license re- ported into the EU, and the EU was A Sealing License tirement program to end the com- as of 2006 taking action to stop its Retirement Plan mercial seal hunt. A Department of own trade in harp and hooded seal We are providing you with an alter- Fisheries and Oceans spokesperson products. native to what Paul McCartney turned down the offer quickly, stat- called “a stain on the character of ing, “The short answer is no. We’re the Canadian people....” If this is not interested in the offer and would The EU Resolves really simply an economic problem, prefer she put the money in another to Ban Seal then take our offer. worthwhile cause” (British Broad- —Cathy Kangas, founder casting Corporation 2006, n.p.). Products and CEO of PRAI Beauty, The sealing industry was not as On September 6, 2006, the Euro- letter to Canadian Prime quick to turn away. On April 15, pean Parliament adopted a written Minister S. Harper, April 2006 2006, the Montreal Gazette repor- declaration instructing the Euro- In March 2006 animal protection ted that sealers from Prince Edward pean Commission to “immediately groups escorted Paul and Heather Island were open to the concept of draft a regulation to ban the import, McCartney to the ice floes in the a buyout (Canadian Press 2006b, export, and sale of all harp and Gulf of St. Lawrence to be pho- 10). K. MacLeod, a local sealer hooded seal products” (Lucas tographed in the harp seal nursery. said, “I talked to quite a few of the 2006). Four hundred twenty-five The McCartneys made an impas- license holders here in P.E.I. and members of the European Parlia- sioned plea to Canadian Prime Min- everyone is willing to give this ment signed the Declaration, the ister S. Harper to end the seal hunt a try.” He concluded that sealers highest level of support for any reso- and for the Canadian government would like to “explore the alterna- lution in the history of the European to consider investing in a license tives” and observed, “It’s the twenty- Parliament. While the Canadian retirement plan for sealers. The first century.” Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, L. unprecedented media coverage may Hearn, attempted to dismiss the res- have increased hostilities from the olution as “really nothing” (Cana- sealing community, with media Conclusions dian Press 2006a), others were not reports of violence from sealers P. Moore, a co-founder of Green- so convinced. In a September 7, toward seal hunt observers occur- peace, once said, “What the seal 2006, press release, Canadian sena- ring just weeks later (CBC News hunt represented was the para- tor L. Milne, who also serves as pres- 2006a). However, the McCartneys’ mount focus for public attention ident of the Canada Europe Parlia- proposed buyout plan did achieve on the need to change our basic mentary Association, stated of some support from both seal hunt attitude and relationship to nature Hearn, “If he can’t understand how advocates and opponents. and to the species that make it up” important this declaration is, he License retirement programs (in Herscovici 1998, n.p.). In this doesn’t understand his job” (Liberal have been implemented over the he was correct; for the true cost of Party of Canada 2006, n.p.). Milne’s past few decades in Canada, the resumption of commercial sealing sentiments are perhaps understand- United States, Britain, Europe, is far greater than the seals it able. Canadian export statistics indi- Australia, and elsewhere in the claims each year, and those work- cate the EU is a consistent and sig- wake of fishery closures and reduc- ing both for and against it are well nificant market for unprocessed tions (Nautilus Consultants 1997). aware of what is at stake. (raw) sealskins and other seal prod- The programs can take many forms, In the wake of the 1990s cod col- ucts. Moreover, the implications of but they generally involve pro- lapse, the Canadian government an EU prohibition on harp and viding federal funds in exchange clearly felt secure in rejuvenating hooded seal products are even for fishing licenses. This kind of the commercial seal hunt, which greater, given the untracked exports program has already been put had caused so much controversy in of tanned sealskins from Canada to into practice in Canada for marine previous decades. Perhaps it be- Europe (there is no distinct trade mammal hunts; in the 1970s lieved that the animal protection category for tanned sealskins in Canada declared a moratorium on movement had diminished over the Canada); the powerful fashion mar- commercial whaling and instituted years or that seal hunt proponents kets in France and Italy; and the a buyback program for whaling had laid a strong enough public European retail trade of garments licenses (Williams and George n.d.). relations foundation to weather any and other finished products made In April 2006 BBC News reported opposition. Instead, the Canadian from sealskin and seal leather. that American businesswoman C. government soon found itself to be Kangas had made an offer of $16 the focus of strong domestic and million to the Canadian government

106 The State of the Animals IV: 2007 international criticism for rejuve- Berrill, M. 1997. The plundered seas: ———. 2006b. Pressure mounts on nating the seal hunt. Can the world’s fish be saved?. Canada to ban bottom trawling. Throughout the 1990s seal hunt Vancouver, B.C.: Greystone Books. http://origin.www.cbc.ca/canada/ proponents spent much of their Blake, R. n.d. Conservation betrayed. british-columbia/story/2006/10/ efforts either discounting or scorn- In Canada’s fishery, ed. J. 04/bottom-trawling.html. ing efforts by animal protection Goodrich. Produced by the Center Canadian Geographic. 2000. Seal- organizations to stop the commer- for Canadian Studies, Mount Alli- ing through the years. http:// cial seal hunt. However, more son University, in cooperation with www.canadiangeographic.ca/ recently, high-profile celebrities and Canadian Heritage Canadian Stud- magazine/jf00/sealtimeline.asp. hard-hitting campaign tactics by ies Program. http://www.nafo.int/ Canadian Press. 2006a. European seal animal protection groups have about/history/canada-fishery/ proposal “really nothing,” Hearn brought the plight of seals in Canadasfishery.pdf. says. Globe and Mail. September 7. Canada to the forefront of public British Broadcasting Corporation http://www.theglobeandmail.com/ consciousness, creating a backlash (BBC). 2006. Firm offers $16m to servlet/story/RTGAM.20060907. of opposition to the hunt that has end seal cull. April 6. http://news. weuseals0907/BNStory/National/ been impossible to ignore. In re- bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/ home. sponse the Canadian government 4884132.stm. ———. 2006b. We can be has launched a full-scale effort in Broom, D. 2005. Statement of bought out, P.E.I. seal hunters defense of commercial sealing inter- witness. Veterinary review of say. Montreal Gazette. April 15, ests, committing the resources of HSUS seal hunt video footage. 10. several federal government depart- Unpublished. Carino Company Limited. 2005. ments. Senior Canadian govern- Burdon, R.L., J. Gripper, J.A. Price list. March 30. http:// ment officials, including the prime Longair, I. Robinson, and D. www.carino.ca/products.php. minister, have spoken out regularly Ruehlmann. 2001. Veterinary Center for the Defense of Free in defense of the sealing industry in report: Canadian commercial Enterprise. 2006. Canadian seal Canada, and Canadian delegations seal hunt. Prince Edward Island. hunt protests—Eco-colonialism have lobbied in Europe to prevent March. http://www.ifaw.org/ or legitimate concern? http:// seal product trade restrictions. ifaw/dfiles/file_95.pdf. www.cdfe.org/seal hunt.htm. Only time will reveal the fate of Canadian Broadcasting Corpora- Cheetham, S.E. 2005. Statement the harp and hooded seals of the tion (CBC). 1958. A dying indus- of witness. Veterinary review of northwest Atlantic, but to seal hunt try. Canadian Scene (television HSUS seal hunt video footage. opponents, the events of the past program). March 14. http:// Unpublished. decade could perhaps be summa- archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp?id= Danish Broadcasting Corporation. rized by the oft-used words of 1-73-986-5590. 2006a. Grønland indblandet i sæl- Mahatma Gandhi: “First they ignore ———. 1982. European Parliament mishandling. January 5. http:// you, then they laugh at you, then endorses import ban on seal- www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/ they fight you...then you win.” skins. Sunday Morning (radio 2006/01/05/201415.htm. program). March 14. http:// ———. 2006b. Stop for grøn- archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp?id landsk import af sæler fra Literature Cited =1-73-986-5605. Canada. January 6. http://www. AG/Grønlandsposten. 2006. Sael- ———. 1984. U.K. boycott threat- dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2006/ jagt resulterer i boykot af canadisk ens Canadian fishery. The Jour- 01/06/184153.htm. seafood i USA. AG/Grønland- nal (television program). April 3. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. sposten July 27, A7. http://archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp 1995. North Atlantic Fisheries Angus Reid Group Inc. 1997. Cana- ?id=1-73-986-5606. ministers renew commitment dians and the commercial seal ———. 1987. Ottawa ends large to conservation. News release. hunt. September 4. http://www. scale hunt. The National (televi- October 20. http://www.dfo-mpo. ipsosreid.com/pdf/media/pr970 sion program). December 30. gc.ca/media/newsrel/1995/ 904.PDF. http://archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp hq-ac122_e.htm. Arnold, R. 1995. The wise use phi- ?id=1-73-986-5607. ——–. 1996. Mifflin disputes cod losophy. Blue Ribbon Magazine. Canadian Broadcasting Corpora- extinction status. News release. December. tion News. 2006a. Fishermen October 11. http://www.dfo-mpo. Baker, J. 2006. Battling the ban. keep anti-sealing activists gc.ca/media/newsrel/1996/ The Telegram. February 3, A1. grounded. April 13. http://www. hq-ac79_e.htm. cbc.ca/nl/story/nf-cartwright- ———. 1997. Mifflin announces seals-20060413.html. limited cod fishery re-openings.

Canada’s Commercial Seal Hunt 107 News release. April 17. http:// file_226.pdf#search=%22IFAW% parl.gc.ca/cmte/CommitteePub www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/ 20gallon%20report%20seal%20 lication.aspx?SourceId=49703. newsrel/1997/hq-ac22_e.htm. subsidy%22. Humane Society of the United ———. 2003. Thibault announces Global Action Network. n.d. Fur States, The (HSUS). 2005. HSUS multi-year Atlantic seal hunt and aboriginal people. http:// announces boycott of Canadian management measures. News www.gan.ca/campaigns/fur+ seafood to save baby seals. News release. February 3. http:// trade/factsheets/fur+and+ release. April 4. http://www.hsus. www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/ aboriginal+people.en.html. org/press_and_publications/press_ newsrel/2003/hq-ac01_e.htm. Goldberg, K. 2001. Canada’s war releases/the_hsus_announces_ ———. 2004. Cod recovery efforts on whales: Will the bowhead sur- boycott_of_canadian_seafood_ since the 2003 closure. Media vive? British Columbia, Canada: to_save_baby_seals.html. backgrounder. May. http:// Canadian Marine Environment ———. 2006. Seal hunt costs www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/ Protection Society. Canada’s fishing industry mil- backgrou/2004/hq-ac43a_e.htm. Greenland Home Rule. 2001. lions. News release. September ———. 2005a. Canadian seafood Department of Industry report 28. http://www.hsus.org/press_ exports reach $4.5 billion in of the seal seminar. Seals in the and_publications/press_releases/ 2004. News release. March 14. marine ecosystem. June, 57. _seal_hunt_costs_canadas.html. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/ http://www.norden.org/pub/ Hutchings, J.A., C. Walters, and media/newsrel/2005/hq-ac09_ miljo/miljo/sk/2001-580.pdf. R.L. Haedrich. 1997. Is scientific e.htm. ———. 2006a. Canadian mission to inquiry incompatible with govern- ———. 2005b. Six facts about Greenland. Itinerary. March 24. ment information control? Cana- Canada’s seal hunt. http://www. http://www.nanoq.gl/upload/nap/ dian Journal of Fisheries and dfo-mpo.gc.ca/seal-phoque/ greenland program0323pressgl.doc. Aquatic Sciences. 53: 1198–1210. reports-rapports/facts-faits/ ———. 2006b. Cancellation of International Fund for Animal Wel- factsheet_e.htm. recommendation of 6 January fare (IFAW). 2006a. IFAW calls Dion, S. 2005. Opening remarks at 2006 to Great Greenland A/S on on Canada to cancel seal hunt the Arctic Day Parallel Event, a provisional stop on purchases due to lack of ice. News release. United Nations Climate Change of Canadian seal skin. News March 24. http://www.ifaw.org/ Conference. December 6. http:// release. May 19. http://dk. ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid= www.ec.gc.ca/minister/speeches/ nanoq.gl/upload/dff/fangst/ 165470. 2005/051206_s_e.htm. pressreleaseuk%20final.pdf. ———. 2006b. IFAW briefing on Fink, S. 2006. Seals and sealing in Greenland National Broadcasting Canada’s commercial seal hunt. Canada 2006. March. http:// Company. 2006. Risiko for July. http://www.epolitix.com/ www.stopthesealhunt.com/atf/ boykot af sælskind fra Grønland. NR/rdonlyres/82269268-D411- cf/%7B1AE979E3-67B2-4AC0- May 26. http://knr.gl/nyheder/ 4352-93EE-A5E4CCB83E14/0/ A26D-17D11CF1EAB6%7D/seals nyhed/?&tx_ttnews%5btt_news% IFAWbriefingCanadiansealhunt andsealing2006.pdf#search=%2 5d=12701&tx_ttnews%5bback July06.pdf. 2seals%20and%20sealing%22. Pid%5d=143&cHash=7912c2f77d. Johnston, D.W., A.S. Frienlaender, Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Harris, S., C. Sousbury, and G. L.G. Torres, and D.M. Lavigne. Union. 2001. The Newfoundland Iossa. 2005. Harp seal popula- 2005. Variation in sea ice cover and Labrador seal fishery: Where tions in the northwestern on the east coast of Canada from do we go from here? May 1. Atlantic: Modeling populations 1969 to 2002: Climate variabil- http://www.ffaw.nf.ca/Issue with uncertainty. http://www. ity and implications for harp and Details.asp?id=5. boycott-canada.com/assets/docs/ hooded seals. Climate Research Fisheries Resource Conservation Harp%20seal%20modelling%20 29: 209–222. Council. 1999. 1999 Conserva- report%20final%20final.doc. Jordan, W.J. 1978. The killing of tion requirements for the Gulf of Herscovici, A. 1998. The rise and the harp seal pups. London: St. Lawrence groundfish stocks fall of animal rights: Holding Royal Society for the Prevention and cod stocks in divisions 2gh activists accountable. November. of Cruelty to Animals. April, 3–7. and 3ps and science priorities. http://website.lineone.net/~s.ward/ Krakauer, J. 1991. Brown fellas. Ottawa, Ontario: FRCC. April. MIN/98Nov/Herscovici.html. Outside Magazine, December, 70. http://www.frcc.ca/1999/ House of Commons Standing Com- Krauss, C. 2004. Clubs are out in frccr199.pdf. mittee on Fisheries and Oceans. force for baby seals. New York Gallon, G. 2001. The economics of 1997. Role of sciences in fish- Times. April 5, A1. the Canadian sealing industry. eries management. Meeting evi- Lavigne, D. 1995. Seals and fish- http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/dfiles/ dence. December 9. http://cmte. eries, science and politics. 11h

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