We think it’s safe to say that Canada isn’t going to meet its quota of 400,000 seals in this year’s seal slaughter. The portion of the annual commercial harp-seal massacre that takes place near Prince Edward Island started Sunday, and just one lone boat went out.
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| © Sea Shepherd |
Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans blames recent storms for the lack of participation, but a more likely explanation is the plummeting price of seal pelts brought on by bans on seal products by the U.S. and the European Union. And consumers around the world refuse to buy seal products because of the barbaric way that seals are hooked in the eye or mouth, dragged across ice, shot or bludgeoned with clubs, and skinned—sometimes alive.
So with global demand for seal products sinking and most Canadians opposed to the hunt, why did the quota increase from last year? With the federal election in May, politicians are apparently vying for seal killers’ votes by appearing to support the industry. But when trying to win an election, aren’t you supposed to kiss babies, not club them?
Cast your vote to end the seal slaughter permanently by visiting CanadasShame.com.
Written by Michelle Kretzer
