Media
Canada Declares War on Seals
The Canadian Government has today (29 March 2011) has announced the quota for the 2011 seal hunt.
The Canadian government has announced the quota for this year's seal slaughter.
468,200 harp, grey and hooded seals can be killed, an increase of 80,000 from 2010.
The harp seal quota is the highest yet since the government introduced quota management in 1971 and exceeds the killing levels of the 1950s and 60s that lead to a reduction in the population by up to two thirds.
This comes at a time when the harp seal population is under threat from climate change. Harp seals are ice dependent and need sea ice to give birth and nurse their pups on until the pups are strong enough to survive in open water.
Over the last 16 years there has been well below average sea ice formation in the key whelping areas. In some areas, ice conditions were so poor that the Canadian government has estimated 100% mortality for pups born there.
Independent scientists have warned that such reckless slaughter levels combined with the impacts of climate change pose a serious ecological threat to the survival of harp seal populations.
Mark Glover, Respect for Animals' Director of Campaigns said "Canada has declared war on seals. Rather than take action to protect harp seal populations at danger from climate change they are not only allowing the incredibly cruel seal slaughter to continue, they are actually increasing the number allowed to be slaughtered for the fur on their backs. The Canadian government is being irresponsible and cruel, putting commercial interests before all else."
