Canadian Seal Hunt 2009

[pr0klobster]

I think you guys got it all wrong.. Everyone here is talking about the fur that's used for something, and the corpses that are wasted. It's not about that, seals shouldn't be killed in the first place, I mean, does anyone see the difference between real fur and "fake" fur?

Yes.

Seals shouldn't be killed? We shouldn't control the population and also who can hunt them and how many? It's the same thing as controlling deer, wolves, coyotes, bears, etc. Since obviously we can't control the human population by asking people to use their brains before they procreate, and we seem to spread out even more every year...

As someone has pointed out, if the population isn't controlled, they overbreed, spread, then starve to death, get disease and spread it...naturally that would be optimal to let nature take its course. But if it's not regulated I'm thinking you'd have a lot more dead seals; or if seal hunting was outlawed you'd have a lot more people doing it illegally which then raises the question of how you enforce it...even more so than presently.

It's not a good situation no matter how you look at it.

[BloodyBlade]

I think you guys got it all wrong.. Everyone here is talking about the fur that's used for something, and the corpses that are wasted. It's not about that, seals shouldn't be killed in the first place, I mean, does anyone see the difference between real fur and "fake" fur?

Yes.

Seals shouldn't be killed? We shouldn't control the population and also who can hunt them and how many? It's the same thing as controlling deer, wolves, coyotes, bears, etc. Since obviously we can't control the human population by asking people to use their brains before they procreate, and we seem to spread out even more every year...

As someone has pointed out, if the population isn't controlled, they overbreed, spread, then starve to death, get disease and spread it...naturally that would be optimal to let nature take its course. But if it's not regulated I'm thinking you'd have a lot more dead seals; or if seal hunting was outlawed you'd have a lot more people doing it illegally which then raises the question of how you enforce it...even more so than presently.

It's not a good situation no matter how you look at it.

Deer, bears, wolves have a short pain, seals are sometimes still alive when they are skinned..

[pr0klobster]

Unfortunately, some animals are eaten alive by snakes, others are paralyzed by spiders and have their intestines liquified, etc, etc.

I am not attempting to excuse human behavior in this situation (at least it's understandable...)

It's just called nature. The world can be cruel, and each animal has its place in the "food chain".

[izmeister]

Deer, bears, wolves have a short pain, seals are sometimes still alive when they are skinned..

And seals eat their fish while its still alive, and when its done it does not even give the fish the favor of death, the fish is alive with its entrails all over the place.

[BloodyBlade]

Unfortunately, some animals are eaten alive by snakes, others are paralyzed by spiders and have their intestines liquified, etc, etc.

I am not attempting to excuse human behavior in this situation (at least it's understandable...)

It's just called nature. The world can be cruel, and each animal has its place in the "food chain".

We should be eaten by wolves etc too, right?
But when they harm someone, they will be shot immediately.

[Crumpets]

Unfortunately, some animals are eaten alive by snakes, others are paralyzed by spiders and have their intestines liquified, etc, etc.

I am not attempting to excuse human behavior in this situation (at least it's understandable...)

It's just called nature. The world can be cruel, and each animal has its place in the "food chain".

We should be eaten by wolves etc too, right?
But when they harm someone, they will be shot immediately.

Yup, self defense.

[lavapockets]

UPDATE TODAY:
The EU passed a ban on the import of seal products!! So one step closer to stopping the seal hunt Read the article from the HSUS below.

Spoiler!

Today is a day to celebrate. The European Union has slammed shut the door on trade in the products of the commercial seal slaughter.
The Canadian government used every trick in the book to try to derail the ban: massive lobbying, misinformation, and even threats of trade reprisals. But the EU stood its ground and honored its citizens’ opposition to this trade in cruelty. By doing so, the EU has saved millions of seals from a horrible fate.
Every year, the ProtectSeals team has endured hazardous conditions to document the seal hunt. We are committed to showing the world that the Canadian government is lying when it claims that the hunt is humane.
On our trips to the ice, the ProtectSeals team has brought key opinion shapers such as Paul McCartney and Swedish Member of the European Parliament Carl Schlyter. After their trips, neither has wavered in speaking out against the hunt. Shortly after his trip to the ice, Schlyter drafted the first version of today’s EU ban. Our hunt footage was directly responsible for convincing the rest of the EU to agree to the ban. It gives me enormous satisfaction to know that we haven’t just documented the hunt, we have made history.
What Does It Mean?
This is the beginning of the end for the Canadian seal hunt. The Canadian government estimates that losing this primary market will cost Canada’s sealing industry $6.6 million (CAD) each year. The hunt brought in less than $7 million last year. It's not hard to do the math.
Just the promise of an EU ban was enough to drive the prices for seal fur down to $15 (CAD) per skin -- a decline of 86 percent since 2006. As a result, many sealers stayed home. Out of this year's quota of 280,000 harp seals, fewer than 60,000 have been killed so far.
Now that the EU has banned its trade in seal products, countless more seals will live their lives in peace from this year forward.
What’s Next?
Canadian seal hunt supporters won’t give up just yet. With government subsidies still in hand, the sealing industry will be chasing down new markets. The ProtectSeals campaign is working to convince all targeted nations to follow the EU’s example.
We’re keeping the pressure on the Canadian fishing industry and government with the global boycott of Canadian seafood products. Since the boycott began, the Canadian fishing industry has suffered a $750 million (CAD) drop in the value of snow crab exports alone to the United States.
Canadian Senator Mac Harb has introduced his nation’s first bill to end the hunt. The ProtectSeals campaign is striving to convince other members of Canada's Parliament to support the bill.
Yes, there is still much to do -- and if you'd like to help, please visit humanesociety.org/protectseals to learn how. But for the moment, please join me in celebrating this historic victory. Thank you for fighting alongside me to make this day possible. The seals could not ask for stronger allies.

[_Angels]

well I think its just bad...killing little baby seals for their fur..
and NO u CANT compare it with killing cows for food...
Food is an essential part of life... and other then that the cows live howmany years? months? while a baby seal lives like a month maximal for their fur..before it falls off >_< and we dont even need the bfur...=.=
ya and ppl saying leather belts and shoes..=.= ya..do u want to walk on ur bare feet or something? or walk with ur pants at ur knees?

so my points is its just sick and retarded to hunt baby seals..

DOT

[BlackFox898]

and NO u CANT compare it with killing cows for food...
Food is an essential part of life... and other then that the cows live howmany years? months? while a baby seal lives like a month maximal for their fur..before it falls off

have you ever heard of veal?

[_Angels]

Yes but why should we eat that if we have cow ~_~?or pigs?o.o who are older o_O
my point was ..food is food..why the heck do u need fur? theres also somethign like fake fur if ur cold=.=

[Insanity]

but the fur is soo warm...

[_Angels]

GET F-A-K-E or wool XD

[inky]

but really, it's terrible.

[BloodyBlade]

UPDATE TODAY:
The EU passed a ban on the import of seal products!! So one step closer to stopping the seal hunt Read the article from the HSUS below.

Spoiler!

Today is a day to celebrate. The European Union has slammed shut the door on trade in the products of the commercial seal slaughter.
The Canadian government used every trick in the book to try to derail the ban: massive lobbying, misinformation, and even threats of trade reprisals. But the EU stood its ground and honored its citizens’ opposition to this trade in cruelty. By doing so, the EU has saved millions of seals from a horrible fate.
Every year, the ProtectSeals team has endured hazardous conditions to document the seal hunt. We are committed to showing the world that the Canadian government is lying when it claims that the hunt is humane.
On our trips to the ice, the ProtectSeals team has brought key opinion shapers such as Paul McCartney and Swedish Member of the European Parliament Carl Schlyter. After their trips, neither has wavered in speaking out against the hunt. Shortly after his trip to the ice, Schlyter drafted the first version of today’s EU ban. Our hunt footage was directly responsible for convincing the rest of the EU to agree to the ban. It gives me enormous satisfaction to know that we haven’t just documented the hunt, we have made history.
What Does It Mean?
This is the beginning of the end for the Canadian seal hunt. The Canadian government estimates that losing this primary market will cost Canada’s sealing industry $6.6 million (CAD) each year. The hunt brought in less than $7 million last year. It's not hard to do the math.
Just the promise of an EU ban was enough to drive the prices for seal fur down to $15 (CAD) per skin -- a decline of 86 percent since 2006. As a result, many sealers stayed home. Out of this year's quota of 280,000 harp seals, fewer than 60,000 have been killed so far.
Now that the EU has banned its trade in seal products, countless more seals will live their lives in peace from this year forward.
What’s Next?
Canadian seal hunt supporters won’t give up just yet. With government subsidies still in hand, the sealing industry will be chasing down new markets. The ProtectSeals campaign is working to convince all targeted nations to follow the EU’s example.
We’re keeping the pressure on the Canadian fishing industry and government with the global boycott of Canadian seafood products. Since the boycott began, the Canadian fishing industry has suffered a $750 million (CAD) drop in the value of snow crab exports alone to the United States.
Canadian Senator Mac Harb has introduced his nation’s first bill to end the hunt. The ProtectSeals campaign is striving to convince other members of Canada's Parliament to support the bill.
Yes, there is still much to do -- and if you'd like to help, please visit humanesociety.org/protectseals to learn how. But for the moment, please join me in celebrating this historic victory. Thank you for fighting alongside me to make this day possible. The seals could not ask for stronger allies.

[Grimjaw]

UPDATE TODAY:
The EU passed a ban on the import of seal products!! So one step closer to stopping the seal hunt Read the article from the HSUS below.

Spoiler!

Today is a day to celebrate. The European Union has slammed shut the door on trade in the products of the commercial seal slaughter.
The Canadian government used every trick in the book to try to derail the ban: massive lobbying, misinformation, and even threats of trade reprisals. But the EU stood its ground and honored its citizens’ opposition to this trade in cruelty. By doing so, the EU has saved millions of seals from a horrible fate.
Every year, the ProtectSeals team has endured hazardous conditions to document the seal hunt. We are committed to showing the world that the Canadian government is lying when it claims that the hunt is humane.
On our trips to the ice, the ProtectSeals team has brought key opinion shapers such as Paul McCartney and Swedish Member of the European Parliament Carl Schlyter. After their trips, neither has wavered in speaking out against the hunt. Shortly after his trip to the ice, Schlyter drafted the first version of today’s EU ban. Our hunt footage was directly responsible for convincing the rest of the EU to agree to the ban. It gives me enormous satisfaction to know that we haven’t just documented the hunt, we have made history.
What Does It Mean?
This is the beginning of the end for the Canadian seal hunt. The Canadian government estimates that losing this primary market will cost Canada’s sealing industry $6.6 million (CAD) each year. The hunt brought in less than $7 million last year. It's not hard to do the math.
Just the promise of an EU ban was enough to drive the prices for seal fur down to $15 (CAD) per skin -- a decline of 86 percent since 2006. As a result, many sealers stayed home. Out of this year's quota of 280,000 harp seals, fewer than 60,000 have been killed so far.
Now that the EU has banned its trade in seal products, countless more seals will live their lives in peace from this year forward.
What’s Next?
Canadian seal hunt supporters won’t give up just yet. With government subsidies still in hand, the sealing industry will be chasing down new markets. The ProtectSeals campaign is working to convince all targeted nations to follow the EU’s example.
We’re keeping the pressure on the Canadian fishing industry and government with the global boycott of Canadian seafood products. Since the boycott began, the Canadian fishing industry has suffered a $750 million (CAD) drop in the value of snow crab exports alone to the United States.
Canadian Senator Mac Harb has introduced his nation’s first bill to end the hunt. The ProtectSeals campaign is striving to convince other members of Canada's Parliament to support the bill.
Yes, there is still much to do -- and if you'd like to help, please visit humanesociety.org/protectseals to learn how. But for the moment, please join me in celebrating this historic victory. Thank you for fighting alongside me to make this day possible. The seals could not ask for stronger allies.

That's good news. I'm glad to read it.

[*BlackFox]

That's Great News!!

[Blindfire]

It's great... unless you are a fisherman trying to provide for your family. They can't fish the
water when it is frozen and the seal population needs to be controlled. If this hunt is
abolished the north pacific cod will go extinct. There won't be enough cod to feed the seals.
To be honest, I'm sure clubbing is a better way to die compared to starvation.

[BloodyBlade]

It's great... unless you are a fisherman trying to provide for your family. They can't fish the
water when it is frozen and the seal population needs to be controlled. If this hunt is
abolished the north pacific cod will go extinct. There won't be enough cod to feed the seals.
To be honest, I'm sure clubbing is a better way to die compared to starvation.

This may sound harsh, but they better put a bullet in their head, that's one of the shortest pain I think.

[Blindfire]

The spiked tool they use called the "hakapik" can only be used on seal under 1 year old. This means that their skull is still relatively soft and is crushed. They feel little to no pain as their brain is crushed as well. On a seal over 1 year old they use a gun.

[magisuns]

simple, is the killing of seals a need or a want
predators (animal wise) would consider that a need, it is not an argument saying that animals suffer when they get eaten by another animal. for us, in a urbanized community, its just a want, its not a necessity so there is no reason for it to be done. we choose for them to die for our own selfish benefit when there are substitutes that are sometimes even better than what seals can provide.

[BloodyBlade]

The spiked tool they use called the "hakapik" can only be used on seal under 1 year old. This means that their skull is still relatively soft and is crushed. They feel little to no pain as their brain is crushed as well. On a seal over 1 year old they use a gun.

So why do I always see seals getting skinned alive? + They can take the bodies with them, I don't really want to walk around between 100 dead people.

[Blindfire]

The seals are not alive when they are skinned. Their skulls have been crushed and they have been bled out. There are government officials on the ice with the hunters to make sure it happens.

[Grimjaw]

The seals are not alive when they are skinned. Their skulls have been crushed and they have been bled out. There are government officials on the ice with the hunters to make sure it happens.

I'm glad to see the seals get a fair trial.

[Midori]

To many moral **** in this thread. Get over it, it's life.

Now I'm going to go put on my seal fur coat.

[Grimjaw]

To many moral **** in this thread. Get over it, it's life.

Nah, I'm pretty sure that's death. But that doesn't mean I should accept it blindly because I can't directly influence it. Last time I checked I could still make up my own mind about my likes or dislikes. So if you don't mind it, forgive me for jumping off the set path which they force us all on. The more people who become aware of this the better the chances are of stopping these acts. Animals shouldn't have to meet their brutal deaths because humanity has trouble keeping their roles in this world in check.

[*BlackFox]

The seals are not alive when they are skinned.

How sure are you?
The brain is dead, but the heart Still beats..

[Reise]

To many moral **** in this thread. Get over it, it's life.

Now I'm going to go put on my seal fur coat.

Well hey, I'm all for killing things when it's necessary. With that logic, though, you'd be fine with just wasting everything until there's nothing left, right?

[BloodyBlade]

The seals are not alive when they are skinned.

How sure are you?
The brain is dead, but the heart Still beats..

Yes Indeed.

The seals are not alive when they are skinned. Their skulls have been crushed and they have been bled out. There are government officials on the ice with the hunters to make sure it happens.

Yeah, that surely isn't a painfull death!

[Blindfire]

The brain is dead, but the heart Still beats..

If the brain dies nothing works. Without the brain the heart stops.

Yeah, that surely isn't a painfull death!

If the brain is crushed the central nervous system is shut down. The seals feel nothing.

[*BlackFox]

If the brain dies nothing works. Without the brain the heart stops.

But that doesn't mean.. the heart stop beating straight away.