What is the Canadian Commercial Seal Hunt?
The Canadian commercial seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine mammals on Earth. Every spring, as the sea ice begins to shift off the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, thousands of boats are authorized by the Canadian government to to destroy the melting ice floes and hunt baby harp seals for their fur.

Who are being targeted?

While the slaughter of newborn "whitecoat" pups (under 2 weeks old) was banned in 1987, the hunt still focuses almost exclusively on pups. As soon as they begin to shed their white fur—usually at just 3 to 4 weeks of age—they are legally targeted. These have only just been weaned from their mothers and can be hunted from the moment they turn 12 days old.

A "Zombie Industry"

The commercial seal hunt is an economic ghost. It contributes less than 0.1% to Newfoundland’s GDP, and major global markets like the EU, USA, India, and Russia have already banned the trade of seal products. The industry only survives through government subsidies and marketing efforts, while the seals themselves face a "triple threat" of melting ice, dwindling food sources, and industrial-scale slaughter.

The Bottom Line: The seal hunt is not a necessity—it is a choice. We are calling on the Canadian government to implement a fair License Buy-out, transitioning hunters into sustainable industries and finally ending this archaic practice for good.

For more information, please visit seals.wildlifeopedia.org

To take further action, please contact decision makers directly

📸 PHOTO: Britannica