What is the Canadian government doing about seal hunting?

What is the Canadian government doing about seal hunting?

But in the 1990s, the Canadian government rejuvenated the commercial seal hunt through massive subsidies. And with nearly one million seal pups killed in the past five years alone, we can only wonder what the impact will be on the harp seal population in coming years.

How much money does the seal hunt make?

For seal hunters registered in Canada, life isn’t grand. The average harvester earns only 20-35% of his yearly income — a meager $5,000 to 8,000 — from sealing, and relies on other work to survive. A vast majority of sealers come from Canada’s poorest, most isolated regions and have few alternatives for work.

What is the problem with seal hunt?

Introduction. The seal hunt in Canada is a serious environmental issue that draws a lot of public and media attention. The process involves immense violence, has questionable reasoning, methods and regulations, and is performed on a large scale.

Who can hunt seals in Canada?

Only adult seals are hunted. Indigenous hunters living above 53 latitude in Canada are not required to have licenses or abide by any TAC’s (total allowable catches). Although Inuit are a tiny minority of the southern Canadian seal hunts, the majority of commercial sealers in Canada and around the world are Inuit.

Is seal clubbing still legal in Canada?

It is illegal in Canada to hunt newborn harp seals (whitecoats) and young hooded seals (bluebacks). The hunt remains highly controversial, attracting significant media coverage and protests each year. Images from past hunts have become iconic symbols for conservation, animal welfare, and animal rights advocates.

Why is seal hunt good?

Seals are a sustainable resource and are in abundance. Speaking of sustainability, seals are part of the reason why fish stocks are very low (although overfishing is also a big issue) and the seal hunt not only provides jobs and resources for the hunters, but also allows the fish populations to regenerate (a bit.)

How much is a seal pelt worth?

John’s, Nfld., said sealskin’s popularity has exploded because women now demand fur coats that accentuate their figures. A sealskin coat can cost $1,300 to $4,000. “Everyone is interested in exercise and dieting, so they don’t want to look big and bulky any more,” Mr. Halloran said.

Does Canada still hunt seals?

Seal hunting is currently practiced in ten countries: United States (above the Arctic Circle in Alaska), Canada, Namibia, Denmark (in self-governing Greenland only), Iceland, Norway, Russia, Finland and Sweden. Most of the world’s seal hunting takes place in Canada and Greenland.

Why do they club seals in Canada?

Why do hunters club seals? It’s safe and easy, and it preserves the seal’s valuable pelt. Federal laws in Canada give a sealer three ways to hunt his prey.

What can Canada do in place of seal hunting?

One potential industry for the federal government to develop in place of seal hunting is marine ecotourism, including seal watching. In the Magdalen Islands, one of Canada’s sealing areas, seal watching now brings in more money to local communities than seal hunting does. 10. Does the government subsidize the hunt?

Where does most seal hunting take place in the world?

Most of the world’s seal hunting takes place in Canada and Greenland. The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) regulates the seal hunt in Canada.

Who are the stakeholders in the seal hunt?

Merchants and fishermen can earn a profit by selling seal products while the government can also benefit from their export (“An introduction”, n.d.). There are other stakeholders involved such as the seal product purchasers and the First Nations who consume seal products.

Is it legal to hunt seals in the United States?

Under the current federal policy, seal hunting is only permitted under the following conditions: no nursing seals are hunted, the hunt is done in a humane manner and quotas are set to ensure that seal populations are sustained.