Many animals like cattle, pigs , chicken are killed for meat in western countries. However, there is not much outcry when these animals are killed, since photos are not available. The killing of seals who live in ice , with their blood splattered in the ice , evoke strong reactions from people.
Activism
December 1st, 2009Reasons for killing seals
December 1st, 2009Some of the reasons for killing seals are:
- Meat
- Fur
- Fat and oil
- For culling the population
Green peace
November 27th, 2009Green Peace had a lot of success with putting a stop to Whaling activities in North America. However when it came to seals they ended up in conflict with one of their own Paul Watson because his methods and ideas towards the seal hunt were too extreme. Green Peace has a policy where they do not wish to put an end to something that will harm First nations peoples. They toned down some of their seal hunt activities because they saw ending the hunt would harm Canadian First Nations.
Seal pelts
November 26th, 2009Seal pelts are soft, water proof, and durable. They can withstand the cold wet months. The seal pelts insulate the wearer from the cold in winter in temperate climates.
Seal skin mitts are a really good investment because they can last a life time.
Seal meat
November 22nd, 2009Seal meat is rich in protien, Omega 3 and 6 and provided a warm hearty meal in the colder months. The meat is consumed to this day. Some prefer a nice seal pie to chicken .
Seal oil can be used to help those with heart problems.
History of seal hunting
November 10th, 2009First Nations and people of European heritage have hunted seals for hundreds of years.
Both groups use the meat and both groups make money off of it. Supporters of this practice say that t First Nations and Euro-Canadians should be allowed to make a living doing something that they have done for generations.
The EU says the proposed ban won’t stop First Nations from hunting seals for substance. Many think that it is not fair that they want to take away one of the ways the community along with other rural Atlantic Canada communities make money from their traditional skills.
Killing seals
November 2nd, 2009The hunt is Canada is tightly regulated and sealers can loosing their license and face charges for breaking the laws.
The vast majority of seals are shot not killed with the hakipik.
It is illegal to skin a seal alive, new regulations have come into place to insure the animal is dead.
Vets have even held voluntary workshops for sealers on the new regulations and quick humane methods to kill seals. It has been estimated that so far a third of the sealers have attended these workshops. Many consider this as proof there that these are not barbaric killers.
Seal population
October 18th, 2009The Harp seal population off the coast of Newfoundland is around 5.4-5.5 million animals.
Even after a hundred years of being commercial hunted , the population is still high. Some people are concerned that, if the seal hunt ends the population will continue to be high and the seals will need to be culled.
Most people would rather have seals be hunted for their pelts oil and meat rather than be killed and sunk to the bottom of the sea.
Commercial seal hunts
September 12th, 2009British Columbia also had a commercial seal hunt that ended just before Animal rights groups found out about the Atlantic Canada hunt. Around that time when the BC hunt ended there were so many seals they started culling them.
Just killing the animals and cutting the noses off. If an animal is to be killed at least it should be used in some way, killing it just for fun can be a big waste.
Seal hunting laws
August 5th, 2009In Canada a seal cannot be hunted until it is independent from it’s mother. While young seals can be hunted the hunting of white coat baby harp seals was outlawed in 1987. Try to check the age at which most farm animals are slaughtered. The majority of farm animals are killed around the same age most seals are hunted or the same level of development.