Sealer attacks - what it's like to be a seal. Photo: Ian Robichaud

Who Are the Sealers?

In an effort to bring balance and an [attempted] unbiased look at the true nature of the Canadian harp seal slaughter, we believe it's necessary to try and understand the mentality, lifestyles and points of view of the people who actually do the clubbing and killing, and the organizations and groups that support it.

Obviously, their view points are far different than the opposition's, and understanding it as best we can is an important piece of the puzzle to ending the wasteful slaughter.

THE FIRST AND BEST PLACE TO START IS TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND THE MODERN DAY SEALER:

Today's typical modern day Canadian sealers are mostly fisherman, who, more often than not, are unholy participants in the corporate profit machine of a select few businesses and the government that subsidizes their cherished lifestyles.

Although the baby seals represent their first "employment opportunity" of they year, the profits made by killing the seals are miniscule compared to their "other jobs" of fishing, crabbing, and taking lobster.

The fact is, for most sealers, the majority of the proceeds of the seal slaughter go directly to the sealing ship owners and the pelt wholesalers, with the actual man on the ice making slim pickings for the dirty work.

Here's a collection of pro-sealnig stories and websites:

Sealers speak out- Extreme cruelty at the hunt-
(Webpage- (GAN) Global Action Network).

GROUPS SYMPATHETIC TO THE SEALER'S POINT OF VIEW:

There are a few groups who (upon a first quick look) claim to be on the seal's side, or advocates of "animal rights", but in reality, far better serve the needs and interests of the sealers themselves and the government supporting their highly subsidized killing industry.

In navigating around their websites, it's interesting to see their replies, justifications, and rationalizations regarding the subject matter of the Canadian seal hunt.

On some pages, you will see, for example, articles stating "facts" about the Harp seal / cod relationship, however it never fails that the article or claim isn't backed by any credible unbiased science reports that we can study and question on our own... Basically, we just have to take their word for it.

NATIONAL ANIMAL INTEREST ALLIANCE-
(Organization Website- "Our members feed, clothe, heal, comfort, entertain, inform and protect the world!")

SAD BUT TRUE... EXPOSING THE TRUE NATURE OF THE WWF:

Unfortunately, this very powerful "environmental" organization chooses to endorse and spread misinformation about the seal hunt.

Paul Watson and Harpseals.org wish to expose this organization for what they are: seal kill supporters and puppets of the Canadian government. Read Paul's take on the current position of the WWF regarding the hunt.

In addition, Harpseals.org recently obtained a copy of an email sent to one of its list members in response to her question about the seal hunt. Read the email now for enlightenment.

Take a stand for the seals and ask WWF why the organization doesn't OPPOSE the seal hunt! WORLD WILDLIFE FUND

PRO-SEALING ORGANIZATIONS AND CORPORATIONS:

The most brazen groups who unabashedly promote sealing (and whaling):

HIGH NORTH ALLIANCE-
(Organization Website- "The organisation's objective is to protect the rights of whalers, sealers and fishermen to harvest renewable resources in accordance with the principle of sustainable management.")

NORTH ATLANTIC MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION (NAMMCO)-
(Organization Website- "the inter-governmental body for cooperation on the conservation, management and study of marine mammals in the North Atlantic.)

CARINO CO.-
This is one of the two primary companies that process and sell seal skins from Canada. They also sell seal skins from Norway. Owned by G.C. Reiber & Co. Their site shows the prices they pay for the skins.

ATLANTIC MARINE PRODUCTS -
This WAS the other of the two primary companies that process and sell seal pelts. This one was owned by the Barry Group, a huge seafood distributor in Newfoundland. They sold this company or its parts to Carino.