Arguing For and Against Seal Hunting in Canada and around the World - Coursework Example

Seal Hunting Introduction Seal hunting is a personal or commercial activity that has existed for at least 4,000 years. Studies have shown that seal hunting was first done by the Canadians and the Native Americans all those years ago for seal skin, valued for the warmth that it provides. It is also a popular commercial activity that extends to Greenland, places in Europe such as Norway, and even in areas in South Africa such as Namibia. Further archaeological evidence has also shown that seal hunting has existed for more than 10,000 years. The seals and their products would then be sold to places in Europe, the Americas and also to the Far East, in places such as China. Newfoundland, a province in the eastern part of Canada, is most popular for this kind of activity, and seal hunting became one of the area’s most important industries in the 19th century, with annual hunting events being held since the 18th century. To date, there is a population of around 5.5 million harp seals that can be found in the Northwest Atlantic area, so seals are far from being an endangered species. Harp seals are also quite easy to capture and kill because they cannot move quickly on ice due to their ability to gain weight rapidly, and the fact that they do not go into the water. They are usually killed by using wooden clubs or a hakapik. A hakapik is a metal tool that originated from Norway and is basically similar to a hammer, only that it has a sharp and bent spike on one end. Rifles can also be used to kill seals, but using the hakapik as a tool would be the most effective way to ensure that the seals are dead, by using it to strike a seal’s skull. Considered an inhumane killing tool by many, seal hunters still prefer it because the seal can be killed faster, and their pelts (or fur) won’t be damaged. There exist standard dimensions of clubs and hakapiks in Canada that can be used for this purpose, with the club usually being around 60 to 100 centimetres long, and the hakapik being around 105 to 153 centimetres long. 1 Sealing in Modern Times News reports have said that in this year, the quota for seal hunting in Canada and Greenland alone would be around 275,000, which is around 5,000 more than the quota that was set for the year 2007. 2The big commercial harp seal hunt usually occurs between mid November to mid May, until the quota has been fulfilled. The practice is very legal in Canada, and press releases have claimed that the seals are killed without cruelty. This comes off as an absurd statement, for the seals are still killed by clubbing the seal, and striking it with a club to its head, and then allowing the mammal to bleed first before proceeding to the procedure of skinning it. In Canada, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for the seal hunting activities that take place in the country as well as seal management. In addition to the ‘less cruel’ and ‘humane’ method just described as a way to kill a seal, the seal must also not be skinned until it is proven to be really dead. The usual way to know when a seal is actually dead is when the seal has a glassy stare, and does not blink anymore when its eye is touched. Animal welfare groups to date, continue to monitor seal hunts to make sure that seal hunters follow the set rules and regulations set forth by the DFO. 3Animal cruelty can be concluded if the seal was not killed properly and was found to suffer before losing its life completely. For instance, there have been cases wherein blows have been applied to a seal’s head, making the seal suffer acute trauma in their brain. In turn, this leads to a period of convulsions, which animal experts and activists claim to be the seal’s way of fighting for its life. Studies in the past have shown that not all seal hunters do follow the standards set by the DFO, and do not really care about how the seal is killed, just as long as it is. Seals, should they be killed, should be killed rapidly, without having to suffer in fear and pain Scientists from the European Union have shown concern over seal hunting and have suggested that seal hunters should undergo training in order to make sure that they kill the seals rightfully, with the least amount of cruelty possible. Although quite difficult to monitor, the DFO has said that seal hunters who do not abide to the rules and regulations of seal hunting would be subject to tough penalties. However, this has proven to be a challenge and continues to be so, and the DFO has already faced criticism for lack of seal management and lack of hunt monitoring. 4 Furthermore, this advice to the Canadian government came from veterinarian organizations, claiming that this was the least cruel way to kill a seal. However, despite the cruelty, seal hunting is still supported by the Canadian government and has support from other individuals as well. However, large quotas required every year is more than scientists would advise, and suggestions have been made to governments to lower these numbers. Earlier this year, the EU has proposed bans on buying certain seal products, especially white pelts. However, a condition was made on this ban. The proposal banned seal products unless it was proven and certified that hunting methods used to capture and kill the seal coincided and adhered to animal welfare standards of what was believed to be humane. In other words, the EU finally gave in to animal welfare activists who rallied that the seals need not suffer during the kill. However, it is also a given that it is very difficult for the EU market to find out exactly if seal hunters adhere to the standards set for appropriate hunting methods. This kind of ban has led to conflicts between the EU and Canada, who claim that such a ban has caused stress in international trade. In fact, Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada was quoted to be saying that Ottawa ‘will not stand by and accept measures that fly in the face of accepted international practices.’ 5 Despite the controversies hounding the DFO and seal hunting, the DFO consistently assure activists and people concerned that seal hunting is an activity that they seriously monitor. For instance, the usage of aerial patrols and dock patrols ensure that seal hunting is regulated. Inspections at docksides, landing sites are also done, as well as buying centres and processing and manufacturing plants. 6 The Benefits of Seal Hunting Seal oil can also be used for making lubricating substances, cooking oil and also as fuel for lighting purposes. Lamps for instance, may use seal oil in order to work. In addition to this, seal oil can also be used as a manufacturing tool in making leather materials, soaps, paints, and other clothing products. Harp seals, and hooded seals are the most common seals that can be found in the Atlantic, and it is the harp seal that Canadians mainly target for their seal hunting activities. One of the reasons for this is that the baby harp seals possess long white fur, otherwise known as ‘white coats,’ and this material has been known to be very valuable in the market. Seal coats are extremely popular in the fashion industry, with designers such as Gucci and Donatella Versace using this material for their clothing products. Since the coats are waterproof, they are mainly used for making waterproof jackets and boots, and of course, also to make fur coats. 7Other designers in the fashion industry on the other hand, such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Stella McCartney, have condemned the usage of this type of material in their products. However, to date, Canada’s largest market for seal skin would be Norway, with other countries such as Germany, Greenland, China, Finland, Denmark, Greece, South Korea and Russia being loyal buying countries as well. 8 Coastal communities have also taken a liking to seal meat, and it serves as their food. Seal meat is particularly patronized in Asian countries such as China, South Korea and Taiwan, since it can also be packaged as pet food. The blubber found in seal can also be used as a fish oil supplement for individuals and is usually sold in Canadian health stores as well as a variety of stores around the world. Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in seals as well, and these are essential for optimum human health. Evidence and scientific studies have shown that Omega 3 can function in such a way such that it can help the human body in brain function and development, and also helps the body in its growth. In fact, the American Heart Association has advised intake of Omega 3 at least twice a week to reduce inflammation in the body and reduce risks of diseases and all sorts of health cases such as cancer, heart related illnesses, weight loss, diabetes, burns, skin disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, asthma, macular degeneration (which is an eye condition that may lead to blindness), colon cancer, menstrual pains, breast cancer, prostate cancer and osteoporosis and arthritis. Chemicals found in Omega 3 have been effective in treating a variety of health-related cases, and has effectively lowered high cholesterol and high blood pressure in human beings. Focus on the effects of Omega 3 has particularly been seen when it comes to treating heart diseases since a regular intake of this substance has meant that individuals at risk for a heart attack, would have less reason to worry. In addition to all these benefits, Omega 3 has also proven to be important for faster memory retrieval in the brain and better performance for an individual’s behavioural and cognitive development. 9Even though Omega 3 can be found in some nuts and certain fish such as tuna, halibut and salmon, as well as other marine life such as algae and purslane, seals have been found to provide ten times more Omega 3 than the other sources. In addition to Omega 3, seal oil also contain Omega 6 fatty acids, and seal oil can also be used to treat both human beings as well as other mammals, such as dogs. 10 The Legitimacy of Seal Hunting In 2006, a debate between Newfoundland’s Premier Danny Williams and former Beatle, Paul McCartney, Williams defended seal hunting as one of the premier industries in his province. If seal hunting would cease to exist, then so would the livelihood of a large number of inhabitants in the Newfoundland area. 11The spring hunt is particularly important for the livelihood of Canadian seal hunters and the Inuit aboriginals. The Inuit are a group of indigenous people who have lived and still live in the Arctic regions. Aside from Canada, they also inhabit Greenland, Russia and Alaska. Despite the fact that the US has imposed a ban on seal products since 1983, and the EU has also imposed a ban on white seal skins, seal hunting as a commercial activity still continues to prevail. Seal hunting is not only a tradition, but it is also how these seal hunters are able to survive throughout economic crises. They do not go out into the ice and kill seals for their own pleasure, but they only do it to stay alive in a province where many youngsters have left behind to be able to find work in the next province or possibly, another country. It is not so much that these seal hunters like what they are doing. However, they have to make a living, even if it means that their profession is being knocked down by animal welfare activists all over the world. In terms of tradition, these animal activists would have a hard time trying to stop a tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation for thousands of years. These seal hunters claim that killing a seal is no different from killing a cow or a pig for their meat. Killing all these animals for their products is all inhumane, but it is something that has to be done in order for human beings to survive, or at the very least, to live a comfortable life. It is also a dangerous profession and many seal hunters have been harmed in the process of trying to capture a seal. For instance, early this year, four seal hunters were reported to have died after their boat overturned in rough water in Northern Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Animal activists had no mercy and deemed this incident as the seal hunters’ karma for all the seals that they have killed. 12 The Inuit, in particular, are constitutionally given the right to hunt seals. In fact, five land claim agreements have been signed by the Inuit between the years of 1975 and 2006, which means that they are protected from any bans against seal hunting. The Inuit are also protected from activists from the International Fund from Animal Welfare, or IFAW, an organization that works towards animal welfare, and helps to prevent and control animal abuse and cruelty. Their mission is to protect wildlife and rescue animals all over the world that may be victims to human exploitation. In addition to this, they have helped to stop the elephant ivory trade and continue to work towards ending the Canadian seal hunters from hunting. Despite the fact that their intentions are good, IFAW supporters and members are still oblivious to the negative impact of their cause in terms of the fragile economy that depend on these seals. The Inuit, defend their traditional practices because it is the one of the main industries that ensure their existence in the world. Seals have not only provided them with clothing and food, but it is through these seals that such indigenous people have been able to survive. There are thousands of families who depend on seals for their living, since fishing is not always dependable. Some coastal communities assure that seal hunters are able to get at least 35 percent of their annual income from sealing. In other words, seal hunting spells employment for these communities that need it. If it were not for seal hunting and the large population of seals available for them to hunt, processing and manufacturing plants would be out of business, and so would the people who work at such establishments in order to make a living.13 Debates have also been going on with people all over the world arguing on the good seal hunting does because it is still considered a cruel practice and yet, it is tolerated by the government. Apparently, seal hunting has proven to have the capability of balancing the ecosystem. For one thing, harp seals are not endangered species, and that is why it is reasonable to hunt them and encourage trade markets for their parts. Harp seals are known to have long lives and reproduce in large numbers. Their ability to reproduce one offspring every year means that if they were not hunted down, sustaining large numbers of them in the ecosystem would make it impossible to manage. Furthermore, the DFO says that the numbers of seals killed every year is just right to balance off the ecosystem. Seals have also been a pest to fishermen who claim that the seals are taking away their means of making a living. Seals ingest vast amounts of cod fish every day, and reports have said that Atlantic Canada’s cod stocks have shown unbelievable lows due to the millions of seals who prey on the cod. Since there is already a lack of marine resources for the seals to have an alternative food choice, cod is chosen as compared to other fish, such as halibut. Conclusion Seal hunting is a commercial and traditional practice that has existed for thousands of years and show no signs of stopping soon. As much as it is true that these seals are killed in such a way that may be inhumane and brutal to many, attention must also be paid to how other animals are killed for their products. Animals such as cows, pigs and chickens are killed as well and yet activists do not protest as much for these farm animals. Seal hunters are no different from farmers, and the activity is legitimate and beneficial for thousands of families whose survival depends on seal hunting. Suggestions have been made for the government to buy off the seal hunters and pay them the amount that they make from sealing, but all to no avail. The Canadian economy is fragile and the thousands of communities that live along the coastal areas are not given subsidies for sealing. In addition to this, it is undeniable that seal products provide a number of benefits that could help save humans from risky health conditions such as heart attacks. Therefore, it follows then that these animal welfare activists have to choose on whether they should protect the survival of a large population of animals that they barely know anything about or the survival of a large population of the human race. References: 1. Fondation Brigitte Bardot (March 11 2008) Seal hunting: Canada increases its quota! The Brigitte Bardot Foundation continues its fight. Retrieved on December 6 2008 from http://www.fondationbrigittebardot.fr/site/actu_en.php?id=75016 2. University of Maryland Medical Center (2008) Omega-3 fatty acids. Retrieved on December 6 2008 from http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm 3. Hibbeln, J. (June 2006). Healthy intakes of n−3 and n−6 fatty acids: estimations considering worldwide diversity; American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (American Society for Nutrition). 4. Patrick, K (March 4 2006) Seal hunt debated on Larry King Live: Newfoundland Premier goes toe to toe with McCartneys; Retrieved on December 6 2008 from http://sealhunt.ca/Articles/Article_Sealhunt_Debated_On_LarryKing_Live.html 5. Daoust, P. Cook, A., Bollinger, T., Campbell, K., Wong, J. (September 2002) Animal welfare and the harp seal hunt in Atlantic Canada; Canadian Veterinary Medical Association; Retrieved on December 6 2008 from http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=339547 6. The Independent on Sunday (April 10 2004) Canada’s seal hunters return to the killing fields; Retrieved on December 6 2008 from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/canadas-seal-hunters-return-to-the-killing-fields-559505.html 7. Earthfirst (March 30 2008) Dastardly seal hunters die after boat flips in rough water- no miracle seals come to the rescue; Retrieved on December 6 2008 from http://earthfirst.com/dastardly-seal-hunters-die-after-boat-flips-in-rough-water-no-miracle-seals-come-to-the-rescue/ 8. EUBusiness.com (July 23 2008) EU proposes ban on seal products; Retrieved on December 6 2008 from http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1216810921.83/ 9. Inuit Tapitiit Kanatami (March 27 2007) Inuit deliver message on seal hunting practices to European Parliament, media and IFAW; Retrieved on December 6 2008 from http://www.itk.ca/media-centre/media-releases/inuit-deliver-message-seal-hunting-practices-european-parliament-media-a 10. CBC News (April 19 2006) Seal pelts fetch record prices; Retrieved on December 6 2008 from http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2006/04/19/nf-seal-pelt-20060419.html 11. Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (2008) Seals and sealing in Canada: Canadian seal hunt, myths and realities. Retrieved on December 6 2008 from http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/seal-phoque/myth_e.htm 12. Wenzel, G. (April 18 1991) Animal rights, human rights; John Wiley and Sons Ltd. 13. Smith, B. (August 2005) Improving humane practice in the Canadian harp seal hunt; A report of the Independent Veterinarians’ working group; BLSmith groupwork; pgs. 1-27. Read More