The Controversial Canadian Seal Hunt: Should the Government Ban It?

The Canadian Government should not ban the seal hunt because the benefits that are
reaped from it far outweigh the cons, which are based on outdated and inaccurate information. In
recent years, seal hunting methods and practices have advanced significantly to put down seals in
the most painless and humane manner possible. Over 90% of sealers in the Maritime area use
firearms for an instant death shot. Despite this large amount of progress, anti-seal hunting
organizations continue to use gory images of baby seals being skinned alive by hunters. In
reality, Canada outlawed the killing of baby harp and hooded seals (also known as whitecoats
and bluebacks respectively) in 1987, almost 30 years ago. This now false view of what the
Canadian Seal Hunt is remains a large motivator for supporters of the ban, but they are an
archaic perspective of the hunt from almost three decades ago. The publications showing these
obsolete practices are solely for the purpose of generating pity and funds from the general public.
Another reason why the hunt should not be banned is that it does not threaten the seals
whatsoever and is necessary to maintain the marine eco-system in the Maritime area. The
number of seals in Canada has almost tripled since the 1970s, with their population hovering at
around 5.8 million. It is in fact far above Canadas point of reference number of 4.1 million seals,
making the population healthy and abundant. Many people against the hunt would say that the
current kill levels exceed those of the 1950s and 1960s when the harp seal in Canada became
temporarily threatened. However, this statistic is irrelevant with 1 million seals being born per
year and the population continuing to rise. This fast growth could also pose a potential danger to
other marine species in that area. There are many who would say otherwise, but numbers do not
lie and the possibility of such an unstable situation is just another incentive to leave the Canadian
Seal Hunt be.
Finally and most importantly, the seal hunt should not be banned because it is vital to a
large number of Canadian citizens who have already suffered from bad publicity and distorted
opinions. In the smaller towns of the Gulf of St. Lawrence area, the money that seal hunting
provides makes up an imperative part of their yearly income and is worth over $45 million to
these rural communities. It is a tradition that has been going on uninterrupted for centuries until
the more recent outbreak of protests. Far from being solely for the commercial use of fur, a large
number of products have been derived from the seal carcasses. These include omega-3, oil, and
collagen, the former and latter of which have been shown to have many health benefits (e.g.
omega-3 seal oil has been connected to the prevention of cardiovascular disease, and collagen is
used in the regenerate burnt skin). Anti-seal hunting groups claim that the value of the Canadian
Seal Hunt is only a miniscule portion of the economy that could be easily bought out by the
Canadian federal government. However, doing so would not only rob thousands of coastal
fishermen of their jobs, it would take away the multiple assets that the seal hunt contributes. Seal
hunting in Canada has been modernized to the most efficient and humane standard, is a
stabilizing factor to the environment and does not harm their species, and provides large groups
of Canadians with a solid income and other beneficial resources. All of these points are reasons
why the Canadian Seal Hunt is a sound practice and should not be banned.