HARP SEALS & CANADA'S HARP SEAL 'HUNT' The largest massacre of marine mammals in the world

HARP SEALS are PINNIPEDS "Fin-footed" mammals There are 3 families of Pinnipeds True Seals (Phocidae) including harp seals, hooded seals, and harbor seals Eared Seals (Otariidae) including sea lions & cape fur seals Walruses (Odobenidae)

HARP SEAL LIFE CYCLE Yellow jacket (newborn) Whitecoat (to ~2 wks) Ragged jacket (2-3 wks) Beater (3 wks - 13 mo.) Bedlamer (13 mo. – adult) Adult (with pup) Males reach sexual maturity at 7-8 years, females at 4-6. Females give birth to one pup each year starting at about 5 years of age.

Canada's Seal 'Hunt' About 95% of the harp seals that are killed in Canada's seal hunt are between 3 weeks and 3 months of age. How many seals are killed? Canada’s seal ‘hunt’ takes the lives of 3 species of seals. Most are harp seals, but up to 400 hooded seals are also killed and typically, a few hundred to over a thousand grey seals are killed each year. The number of harp seals killed over the years are shown below: 1950's to 1971 Average: 288, , , , , , , to 1982 Average: 160, ,552 92, , ,857 74, to 1995 Average: 52, , , ,971 These numbers do not include “struck & lost” seals

Where are Harp Seals Killed? The harp seal 'Hunt' takes place in two phases: Phase 1: "The Gulf" (The Gulf of St. Lawrence) Phase 2: "The Front" (Off Newfoundland and Labrador)

Why are Harp Seals Killed? For their fur - Illegal in the U.S. and now the EU, their fur is sold in Asia and some countries in Europe.For their fur - Illegal in the U.S. and now the EU, their fur is sold in Asia and some countries in Europe. Small amounts of blubber are sold as 'health food supplements' for their omega-3 fatty acids (also illegal in the U.S. and now the EU).Small amounts of blubber are sold as 'health food supplements' for their omega-3 fatty acids (also illegal in the U.S. and now the EU). Their flesh is left to rot (since there is no market for it).Their flesh is left to rot (since there is no market for it). At one time, the Canadian government claimed the seals were responsible for the collapse of the North Atlantic cod population.At one time, the Canadian government claimed the seals were responsible for the collapse of the North Atlantic cod population. Proved false, the government then claimed the seals were responsible for the failure of the cod to rebound after the fishing moratorium.Proved false, the government then claimed the seals were responsible for the failure of the cod to rebound after the fishing moratorium. Again proved false, the Canadian government now calls this a 'market-based hunt' and spends Canadian tax dollars to promote the market for seal pelts.Again proved false, the Canadian government now calls this a 'market-based hunt' and spends Canadian tax dollars to promote the market for seal pelts. Nevertheless, many Canadian fishermen still believe the old claims.Nevertheless, many Canadian fishermen still believe the old claims. Politics - the Fisheries Minister traditionally hails from the main sealing province, Newfoundland and Labrador.Politics - the Fisheries Minister traditionally hails from the main sealing province, Newfoundland and Labrador. Tradition - sealers take 'pride' in their sealing heritage.Tradition - sealers take 'pride' in their sealing heritage.

How are Harp Seals Killed? The Gulf: Sealers, mostly from the Magdalen Islands of Quebec, set out in boats to the ice floes where the seal pups are born. At this time, most seal pups do not know how to swim. The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker ships create a path through the ice for the sealing ships when the ice packs are dense. Sealers run onto the ice, clubbing every seal pup in sight with a hakapik, a long stick with a hook on the end, for hooking the seal pup in the mouth and dragging it to the skinning area. A veterinary study found that over 40% were skinned while alive and conscious.

The Front: Sealers, mostly from Newfoundland and Labrador, set out in boats to find the seal herds. At this point, the seals know how to swim. How are Harp Seals Killed? Sealers shoot at the seal pups, aiming for their heads. The pelt is devalued with gunshots in it, so the sealers avoid repeat shots. Sealers use hakapik hooks to retrieve killed or wounded seals. Still, many escape, bleeding to death or drowning later. Estimates are about 15% are 'struck and lost'.

Are There Conservation Issues? The Canadian government uses estimates of the size of the harp seal population to set quotas but surveys the population only about every 10 years. The current estimate is about 5 million seals. Kill rates in recent years have caused the population to decline. Until 1971, the Canadian government allowed unrestricted killing. With the population on the verge of collapse, the government instituted a quota system. In 1983, kill rates decreased due to a ban on imports of whitecoat pelts into the EU. Then, as the Canadian government realized that there was a loophole in the ban - sealers could wait a week or two and kill ragged jacket or beater seal pups - the killing increased. Harp seals give birth to pups on ice floes. Seal pups do not know how to swim for the first two weeks of their lives. Without thick, sturdy ice, seal pups drown. This year and in recent years, tens or hundreds of thousands of seal pups have perished this way. With global climate change making spring ice less certain, the seals' future is in jeopardy.

What Can You Do to End the ‘Hunt’? Seal products are illegal in the U.S. Although it is important to reduce demand for seal pelts, American consumers cannot affect pelt markets. Seal products are illegal in the U.S. Although it is important to reduce demand for seal pelts, American consumers cannot affect pelt markets. Sealers are fishermen. They make only about 5% of their income from sealing. Sealers are fishermen. They make only about 5% of their income from sealing. The fishing industry of Canada stands behind the seal hunt. One major fishing company, the Barry Group, owns one of the two main seal skin processing plants in Canada. The fishing industry of Canada stands behind the seal hunt. One major fishing company, the Barry Group, owns one of the two main seal skin processing plants in Canada. Canadian fishermen sell about 70% of their seafood to the U.S. market. That comes to about CAN$3 billion. Canadian fishermen sell about 70% of their seafood to the U.S. market. That comes to about CAN$3 billion. Revenues from seal pelts bring in about CAN$1 million to CAN$20 million per year, split among 1,000 to 6,000 sealers. Sealing boat captains typically take 50% of the pelt revenues and leave 50% for the crew to split up. Revenues from seal pelts bring in about CAN$1 million to CAN$20 million per year, split among 1,000 to 6,000 sealers. Sealing boat captains typically take 50% of the pelt revenues and leave 50% for the crew to split up. The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans has said that the seal 'hunt' will end when the Canadian fishing industry wants it to end. The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans has said that the seal 'hunt' will end when the Canadian fishing industry wants it to end. Boycott Canadian Seafood

How Can You Join the Boycott? Seafood in supermarkets has 'country of origin' labels. Look for 'Product of Canada' on the tag at the fresh fish counter or on cans and jars. Avoid this seafood. Some seafood is exempt from this labeling law. This includes pre-cooked seafood, such as snow crabs and shrimp, and seafood in prepared meals. At the seafood counter, you can ask where the seafood is from. It may be on the shipping box. You can also call or companies that sell seafood meals. Let them know you want them to join the boycott. In restaurants, seafood does not have to be labeled. Ask your server where the seafood is from, and let him/her know that you are participating in the Canadian seafood boycott. Red Lobster is one of the largest, if not the largest buyer of Canadian seafood, sourcing through Quebec, where the Magdalen Island sealers come from. Avoid eating there until this company joins the boycott. Some of the common fish and shellfish from Canada include: snow crabs, lobsters, cold-water shrimp, Prince Edward Island mussels, scallops, cod, sole, flounder, herring, salmon, tuna, sardines, and perch.

Where Can You Learn More? HARPSEALS.ORG IFAW.ORG PROTECTSEALS.ORGSEASHEPHERD.ORG