Fur Institute says seal hunting still environmentally sustainable

March 9, 2010 10d Comments

Fur-Institute-of-Canada

The Fur Institute of Canada continues to speak out on the Seal Hunt in Press Release below:

Anti-sealing campaigns will not deter support for Canadian seal hunting, says stakeholder group

 On the eve of the 2010 East Coast seal hunt, the Fur Institute of Canada today reiterated its support for sustainable seal hunting in Canada.  The Institute, which represents seal hunters, aboriginals and marine mammal scientists through its Seals and Sealing Network, said it will continue to oppose efforts to ban the hunting of seals.

“Seal hunting in Canada continues to be environmentally sustainable and is conducted in accordance with best practices, so we see definite benefits in supporting it”, said Rob Cahill, Executive Director of the FIC.

According to the Seals and Sealing Network (SSN), campaigns to end the hunting of harp seals in Atlantic Canada rely on falsely painting the centuries-old activity.   The continued use of white coat images is just one example of how campaigners unfairly play on people’s emotions, the Network says.  In addition to developing best management practices, FIC is also committed to improving public understanding of the hunt and its importance to Canadian communities.

 

Quick Facts on Sealing in Canada

 

– The Northwest Atlantic Harp Seal population is abundant and well conserved, numbering 6.8 million – the highest level ever scientifically estimated.  The World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists it as a species of “least concern”. 

 

– Employed properly, the hunting methods of Canadian professional sealers are effective and in accordance with established practices of animal welfare, as recommended by the Independent Veterinarians’ Working Group (IVWG 2005). 

 

– Between 2006-2008, sealing activity yielded $53 million (CAD) in direct “landed value” to sealers based in the provinces of Quebec (QC) and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).  The total value during this period to the economies of QC and NL in product production and trade was over $120 million.

– Seal hides, or “pelts” are handled locally in Canada, where they are tanned into high-quality materials.

– Seal meat and seal oil (rendered from fat), provide locally-sourced protein and a superior source Omega-3 essential fatty acid (EFA) source for human consumption.

– Research and initial trials suggest harp seal heart valves are far superior to those traditionally used in human heart valve replacement procedures.

For more information visit www.sealsandsealing.net

Contact: David Barry, Sealing Committee Coordinator, Fur Institute of Canada

Landline: 709-640-1628  Mobile: 709-785-1015

10 thoughts on “Fur Institute says seal hunting still environmentally sustainable”

  1. Guess this Federal Senator has another opinion. Mind you he doesn’t have to live off the harvest of hunting but of taxpayers money. Guess he’s bored silly.

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    OTTAWA — Liberal Senator Mac Harb says he was expecting to get heckled and booed Tuesday in his latest attempt on Parliament Hill to end the commercial seal hunt in Canada.

    But Harb said he won’t let that stop him from his efforts to try again.

    “I’ve got thick skin,” said Harb, who also introduced legislation last year that immediately died when he failed to get another senator to second his proposal.

    He suggested that the support for the hunt from both the governing Conservatives and his own Liberals is based on “political opportunism,” that will backfire since Canada’s largest trading partners are banning imports of seal products from the hunt.

    At a joint news conference with Harb, the Humane Society International/Canada and a climate scientist, Cynthia Tynan, also urged the government to immediately cancel the 2010 seal hunt because of dwindling ice this year off the east coast of Canada that is at its lowest level on record.

    The warnings are part of a political seal war on the Hill, with almost all the rest of politicians supporting the hunt, and endorsing plans by the parliamentary restaurant to serve seal meat at lunchtime on Wednesday.

    Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea has also criticized Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff for not stopping Harb from trying to introduce the legislation.

    “It is very unfortunate that the Liberal leader is allowing a member of his caucus to attack the seal hunt at a time when all Canadians should be united behind our sealers and behind our northern and coastal communities,” Shea said in the House of Commons on Monday. “I would also encourage the Liberals to take a clear stand on this issue. If they support Canadian coastal communities, then please stand up for them.”

    Shea added that the government would continue to defend the hunt and fight to improve market access and develop new markets for Canadian seal products.

  7. Seal meat is sustainable food for most northerners and other parts of the seal are ingrained into their economy in different ways, shapes and forms. The fur itself is a by-product, with a great price. People who don’t know everything about the aboriginal people who rely on seals and seal hunting should educate themselves. Are they going to provide the northerners with an alternative meat and alternative by-products? Or do they expect a century of tradition to stop because they say so?

  8. 1. Never hunted in my life
    2. Never would tell others to stop their lawful activity
    3. Never have believed for one second that the so called conservation groups were ever interested in the truth
    4. Have always thought that the main reason for the focus on the anti-seal setiment was to legitimize their cause, think about this for one moment. If these so called lovers of animals EVER became successful in completely removing the abilty to hunt seals, are they going to stop, or are they going to further their cause until ALL animals are to no longer be used in any way? If successful, all we have done is legitimize their cause, and will further galvanize their cause to the mainstream
    5. I HATE tofu!!!!!

  9. peopele sould not hunt seals because they never did enything to u so whay do u whant to kill them what just for the great meat

  10. Hey Devin, same reason we kill chickens, cows, pigs and sheep, because of the great meat

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