Why does Canada conduct the world's largest animal slaughter of baby seals?

Question

Between 150,000 to 300,000 baby seals are slaughtered each year in Canada. The massacre is sanctioned by the canadian government and supported by canadian tax payers. I don't understand why it's done. How do you think the world would react if the US conducted the world's largest mass laughter of wildlife? Canada seems to get away with everything. Does PETA care?

Answer 1

If you go to the site below you'll find some accurate information on the seal hunt. It is not a "slaughter of baby seals". It's an annual hunt, and there are no "baby seals" hunted.

Answer 2

Baby seals are not legally hunted as part of the Canadian seal hunt. The hunting of " baby" seals has been banned since 1987 I wish people would stop saying baby seals.



baby seals are born with a white coat to protect them from predators. this is because their mothers spend very little time with them and they stay on the ice during their infancy. After about 12 weeks they shed their baby fur and moult after this time their mothers abandon them leaving them to learn how to live on their own. Seals are not allowed to be hunted until they are fully independent. However cute baby seals make more money so they remain on the posters.



People quickly forget that the harp seal population alone is over 5 million in the North Atlantic. These animals are not at risk and each year the quota's are adjusted to meet current species populations.



Why does the seal hunt take place?

Well very simple it's a hunt for the meat, pelts and oil of the animals. These animals are not being culled like Scotland proposes to do with their seals ( Politicians in Scotland want a seal cull which would kill seals but do nothing with them. Fishermen in the UK are permitted to shoot seals in some areas. )



The seal hunt has taken place in The North Atlantic for Thousands of years by first nations and hundreds of years by those of european heritage.



The majority of seals are shot not clubbed. And when the sealers association wanted to stop the use of hakipiks ( what you would consider a club) members of the US humane society which protests the seal hunt said that banning the " club" is a bad idea.



The seal hunt is victim of misinformation and bad propaganda. I can't get over the number of people who honestly believe that this is considered a sport, or the animals are skinned alive, or that baby seals are being hunted. If you're interested in the hunt and the protests look up My Ancestors were Rogues and Murderers.



The Canadian seal hunt is no worse than the slaughter of cattle for food. In some ways it may even be better. The only reason people get upset is because it takes place outdoors not inside. People are so far removed from nature now. We easily forget that every nation of the world relies on their own natural resources.



Sure seals are cute but when will people step up for the North Atlantic Right Whale, or the Wolffish? Why are we so shallow that only the cute species are allowed to be protected?

Answer 3

You obviously have been informed by groups like PETA,never mind that if we didn't cull the seal population there wouldn't be a cod left on the east coast.I realize I'm not going to change your mind,that being said,if we could find middle ground on this issue that would be a good solution but you start by insulting me the tax payer calling me a butcher,not a good start to compromise politics.In our Maritime provinces this represents peoples livelihoods,perhaps you would like to step in and give them a viable alternative to feed their children.Is there a reason why Afgans grow poppies? Perhaps PETA could explain to me why Canada does the hard work in Afganistan for America(103 dead) and we're not talking seals but men with wives and children.You have not done objective research on this issue and are not qualified to speak to it,I haven't got the time or the inclination to go to a site that would refute your figures(and they are out there) all I can suggest is that you enjoy your rose colored glasses

Answer 4

It's done to protect the fish supply.. If you research it, it's to control the seal population because there aren't enough natural predators to control their numbers and they would literally eat all of the fish if left unchecked and then die off in mass..



PETA protests it every year along with many other things..



There's plenty of hunting that happens in the US every year, we just don't club baby seals because we don't have them in the US. Otherwise I'm sure we would also club baby seals.. We also don't shoot kangaroos, also because they don't live here..



Unfortunately, in a modern world with decreased populations of large predators, human management is a necessary evil. .It is better to have a smaller, healthier managed population then a large and starving population..



PETA is also against the reintroduction of predators and ANY interference with wildlife even if it's to protect endangered species. No thanks, I'd rather see us manage the numbers of some species through culling, captive breeding and reintroduction then see PETA's approach that would lead to a great die off in diversity as things equalized..

Answer 5

In addition to what the first people said, it's also to protect the First Nation's Heritage