ON THE HUNT

An NDP MP from Newfoundland and Labrador is raising questions about the future viability of the seal hunt, despite criticism. In Canada, the season for the commercial hunt of seal is from Nov. 15 to May 15. However, markets are dwindling and the industry isnt as valuable as it once was.

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Harp seal quotas and kills

2008

Exports by product (000)

123 6.2 27.4
# of pelts

275,000 280,000 330,000 217,857

400km 250 miles

Sources: DFO; IFAW; Humane Society; Graphic News; Wikipedia; maritimes.indymedia.org

Quotas Kills

2009 2010

74,581 67,000

Most harp seal hunting occurs in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and o the coast of Newfoundland.

62 kg 1.1 kg 20 kg 792 kg 740 kg 309 kg

Meat Oil

GREENLAND (Denmark)

Seal harvesting
Ba n Bay
Harp seal: Spends summer in Arctic, migrating south in November
The three-step process is a science-based approach developed to ensure that seals are harvested quickly and humanely.

Step 1 - Striking
The shooting or striking of the seal on the top of the cranium with either a rearm or a hakapik (or club) in order to render the animal irreversibly unconscious or dead by crushing both halves of its cranium.

Step 2 - Checking
Conrming, by palpation, that both the left and right halves of the cranium are crushed, which conrms irreversible unconsciousness or death of the seal.

Step 3 - Bleeding
The severing of the two axillary arteries located beneath its front ippers. Proper bleeding ensures that the seal is dead. Sealers must allow a minimum of one minute to pass after bleeding the seal before beginning to skin the seal.

participat seal Atlantic Canada r is mbe harvest. This nu ly from down signicant ed rt 2009 which repo 1,755 active participants.

PL 390 PEOin theE ed

In 2010, approx.

CANADA

un dla nd Gulf of St. Lawrence

Ne wfo

Labrador Sea

Ottawa U.S.

The primary use of the hakapik or club is prohibited for any seal over one year of age. The hakapik or club is considered by veterinary experts to be a humane instrument for harvesting young harp seals (up to at least one year) because the top of their cranium is very thin and can be easily crushed by one or a few strikes. For harp seals over one year of age, sealers must rst shoot the seal with an approved rearm.

Seal populations
= 200,000

Bearded Harbour Hooded Grey Ringed seal seal seal seal seal

N/A

N/A

Harp seal

SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY TARA CORRAN/QMI AGENCY