Harp Seals and the Canadian Harp Seal

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Harp Seals and the Canadian Harp Seal Hunt
Ecological and Humane Implications

• Harpseals.org
• All volunteer, non profit organization with one
  goal
• To permanently end the annual Canadian harp seal
  slaughter

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What is a Harp Seal?
Sub order Pinnipedia 3 Families of Pinnipeds
Eared Seals (Otariidae)
True Seals (Phocidae)
Walruses (Odobenidae)
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Harp Seal Life Cycle
Whitecoat
Raggedy Jacket
Beater
Adult
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HARP SEAL DIET

• DO SEALS EAT NORTH ATLANTIC COD?
• STAPLES FOR THE SEALS capelin, Arctic cod, polar
  cod and herring
• SEALS ALSO EAT halibut, shrimp, small crabs,
  squid

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3 Harp Seal Populations
White Sea
West Ice
Newfoundland Labrador
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Migration and Whelping Areas
(Northwest Atlantic Population)
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Canadas Killing Fields
The Front
The Gulf
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Canadas Harp Seal Slaughter

• Largest Slaughter of Marine Mammals in the
  World
• Current quotas as high as kill rates prior to
  1971 when
• population nearly collapsed and quotas were
• first established
• Over 1.3 million baby seals killed (2003-2006)
  
• Over 325,000 killed in March-April 2006
• March-April 2007 kill quota (TAC) 270,000.
• 2007 actual kill 215,000 seal pups

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Newfoundland and Labrador Timeline

• 1497- John Cabot discovers abundant fishing
  grounds
• 1800s- English and Irish immigrants arrive
• 1949- Newfoundland Labrador join Canada
• 1950s- Fishing fleets modernized--draggers and
  trawlers
• 1977-80s EEZ established. Huge Canadian
  Foreign fleets
• 1983- Europe bans whitecoat products
• 1992- Atlantic cod fishery collapses
• 1995-2000 Seal hunt revived. Subsides. Killing
  increased
• Oil, fish products, newsprint, iron ore,
  electricity

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Cruel Killing Methods

• 95 of the slaughtered seals are babies 3-12
  weeks old.
• Defenseless pups--cant swim and little chance
  for escape.
• Clubbed with a hakapik and left to suffer in
  agony until skinned
• or shot and dragged to skinning area with hooks.
• Independent veterinary team reported up to 42
  were skinned
• while still conscious.
• Cruel and senseless slaughter for their fur.

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Spring 2007 Another Year of Unusual Weather

• March 2007 Gulf Poor Ice, few surviving seals

• April 2007 Front Ice closes in on sealing boats

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Canadian Government Position

• Sustainable 5.8 million seals. Almost triple
  what it was in the 1970s. Managed on
  socio-economic considerations until 70
  population level is reached. Managed with a
  precautionary approach.
• Viable economically viable and not subsidized
  by the Fisheries and Oceans
• HumaneRoyal Commission on Seals Sealing said
  that the killing is comparable to hunting any
  other wildlife. An independent group of
  veterinarians reported that 98 are killed in an
  acceptably humane manner

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Why Does the Killing Continue?

• Officially NOT to help the cod population recover
  or reduce a seal population that is too large
• But fishing industry promotes seal hunt
• Officially a MARKET-based hunt
• Extra income for fishermen (about 5)
• Newfoundland Politics DFO minister comes from
  NL
• Tradition Sealers Pride

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Canadian Seafood Boycott
Strategy to Stop the Slaughter

• Objective Force the Canadian fishing industry
  to stop the killing by making them pay a severe
  financial penalty
• The Canadian seafood industry generates 5
  billion dollars annually for the Canadian economy
• 65-70 of their seafood is exported to the United
  States
• Seal pelts generate 16-20 million dollars
  annually
• Over 2,500 businesses and 440,000 individuals
  have pledged to avoid some or all Canadian
  seafood. This includes Legal Sea Foods, Whole
  Foods Markets, Wild Oats Markets and many others

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Europe Takes Action

• European Parliament Declaration--Sept 2006
• UK Pressuring European Commission for EU ban
• Countries that have banned seal imports or are in
  the process of passing laws Austria, Belgium,
  Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy,
  Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Slovenia and
  Turkey

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Main Opposition Groups

• HARPSEALS.ORG (only group focused on this)
• Animal Alliance of Canada
• Atlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
• Respect For Animals
• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS)

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How YOU Can Help

• Support the Canadian Seafood Boycott
• Start or join a group of activists and organize
  public awareness events. Spread the word
• Join Harpseals.org and Sea Shepherd (501(c)(3)
  non-profits)
• Organize fundraisers
• Donate (for billboards, radio spots, TV spots,
  etc)
• Write letters to the Canadian Government and
  Darden Corp. (Red Lobster Restaurants)

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Take Action - Join Us!
harpseals.org seashepherd.org
Thank You