The CBC is reporting that seal pelt prices in Nunavut have plummeted, and places the blame on the European Union's recent ban on seal products.

But the European ban has a clear exemption for seal products from aboriginal sealing. European markets for Nunavut seal products will not be affected by the ban.

Seal pelts from Nunavut make up an estimated 3% of the seal pelts in trade, with about 10,000 seal pelts entering into trade each year. European markets are said to account for 5% of the market demand for seal pelts. If this is the case, much of the European market demand for seal products could be satisfied with seal pelts from Nunavut.

So why isn't the Government of Canada doing anything to help Canadian Inuit access the EU market - which will now ONLY be open to products from aboriginal sealing?

As today's press release by Canadian Senator Mac Harb notes, “This is a perfect opportunity for the government to secure access to the EU market, and ensure that Inuit communities will benefit. But instead of putting resources and effort into supporting these communities and helping them to market their products, the government is throwing taxpayer’s money at a doomed WTO challenge.”

It appears as though the Canadian government's tactic to “play the Nunavut Inuit card as leverage" to open markets for seal products "and have the east coast sealers follow” - as outlined in a 2001 memo from the Department of Foreign Affairs - has backfired. If Canadian Inuit suffer as a result of the EU ban, the blame will lie squarely on the shoulders of the Canadian government and their refusal to distinguish between Inuit subsistence hunting, and Canada's inherently inhumane commercial seal hunt.

If the Government of Canada truly cared about Inuit communities, for whom sealing is an important activity, now is the time to prove it and stop using Inuit as “leverage” to promote the commercial sealing industry.

Unfortunately, most politicians are so concerned with pandering for Atlantic Canadian votes in the next election that they are unlikely to "stand up" for Inuit seal hunters, even when given the opportunity to do so.

Sheryl Fink
Senior Research and Projects Specialist
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
Guelph, Ontario

^{*International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) does not oppose subsistence hunting by Inuit and other aboriginal people.}

The post was written by the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Senior Research and Projects Specialist Sheryl Fink, who is based in Guelph, Ontario. The article was originally published on Straight.com.

An internal government memo recently came to light urging Canada’s agriculture minister, Gerry Ritz, not to join the United States and Europe in banning cat and dog fur imports. Government officials fear that such action could weaken Canada’s position against countries that have banned imports of seal fur products.

The news that cat and dog fur products can be readily purchased in this country likely comes as a shock to many Canadians. Most of us would be repulsed by the idea of wearing Tigger and Fido, even those of us who eat meat and wear leather.

Cat and dog fur is most often used as trim for garments and trinkets. Fur may be dyed, shaved, and otherwise altered so that it bears little resemblance to the animal from which it came. Such fur—if labelled at all—is often mislabeled, since exporting countries are well aware of our reluctance to wear clothing made from cats and dogs.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare's senior researcher Sheryl Fink was on the ice in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence while these photos of sealers working were captured. Her quotes are included in this slide show. For more information please visit http://www.stopthesealhunt.org

Right-click here to download the podcast.

Posted by Sheryl Fink, IFAW Senior Researcher

In the same week that Russia annouced an end to the hunting of seals under a year old, the Canadian goverment released today that they will allow for the slaughter of 280,000 harp seal pups this year.

This is outrageous.  This quota is completely indefensible. It’s not supported by markets, it’s not supported by the DFO’s own management plan, and it’s certainly not going to be supported by the majority of Canadians.

For the past two years we’ve seen saturated markets for seal fur, and pelt prices are now the lowest in recent memory.  If this is a market-based hunt, as the government claims, the quota for this year should be zero.

The federal government’s determination to ignore reality on this issue is totally irrational.  There are no markets for seal products, and with a potential European-wide ban on the horizon, no signs that the economic outlook is going to improve anytime soon. While our politicians trip over themselves to support commercial sealing, our taxes are being wasted on bailing out an anachronistic, dangerous, dead-end industry.

How ironic that two days after Russia announced an end to its commercial harp seal hunt, Canada is condemning one-third of the pups born here to a cruel and unnecessary death. Our government is insistent on keeping Canada stuck in the dark ages.  Canadians would be much better served by a government that will stop playing politics, stop wasting our taxes, and start investing in alternative, economically viable employment opportunities.

Canada’s commercial seal hunt will be under intense scrutiny this year, as the European Union considers banning the trade in seal products.

You can help keep the pressure on the Canadian government by taking action now on www.stopthesealhunt.org

Last night, key European decision-makers and bureaucrats working late in their offices in central Brussels were treated to an unusual spectacle.

Striking footage of newborn seal pups on Canadian ice floes was projected by the International Fund for Animal Welfare near the Commission and other European Union institutions. Why? To reveal the shocking reality that the seals being born this month are amongst those who could be dead in weeks - killed by sealers for their fur pelts, many of which find their way into fashion houses across Europe.

But more positively, we were there to remind MEPs and Ministers (who were that day discussing a ban in the trade of seal products from commercial hunts) that they have a unique chance to deliver a body-blow to commercial seal hunts in Canada and around the world by voting for a full and unconditional EU-wide ban in the trade in seal products. This crucial vote takes place in the European Parliament next month.

This report was filed by Barbara Slee - The International Fund for Animal Welfare's Political and Campaigns officer on the ground in Belgium.

Members of the European parliament (MEPs) from the IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) Committee, voted on March 2 overwhelmingly in favor of a ban on the trade in seal products without any derogation, and with a single exemption for products from traditional Inuit seal hunts.

The week before this crucial vote, the legal service of the Council (representing the member states) claimed that the proposed legal basis (article 95) was inappropriate for this legislation. This advice seriously undermined the entire proposal for legislation and threatened the outcome we were hoping for; an unconditional ban on the trade in seal products coming from commercial seal hunts. We feared that months of convincing MEPs and national officials had been in vain.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare's J.C. Bouvier filed this report from P.E.I. Canada...

In my role for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) I'm not usually able to get out into the field for actual campaign activities with animals. However on Monday I and my coworker Ed Butler received an offer to go out onto the ice and visit with the maturing harp seal pups on the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

After discovering the joys of getting into the emblematic orange "Mustang" suits...Ed and I acclimated quickly to our first helicopter ride...our pilot Martin was both very professional and genuinely concerned that everyone on board was comfortable and enjoying the experience...once we spotted beater seal pups...the ride became a surreal landing into the scene I had only witnessed in video and still photographs...and I don't know that I was truly prepared for the beauty, but perhaps more importantly the reality that these creatures could be violently attacked for profit within the coming hours...

Once on the ice, Ed, the other passengers and I worked to both be respectful of the seals space...while trying to get as close as possible...we looked a bit like seals ourselves as we slid quietly toward a pair of beaters who were basking in the sun.  They were ultimately very patient and kind while we snapped a few photos and stared in a sort of stunned silence...contemplating our lying on the frozen ocean, working to protect these gentle and timid creatures.

More to come...

The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) released the total allowable catch (or TAC) of seals today. 

The number of seal pups Fisheries officials decided it was reasonable to kill is 275,000 harp seal pups, known as beaters...seals whose coats have just started to progress past the white coat stage...and the majority of which will be between 3 weeks and 3 months of age...The International Fund for Animal Welfare issued a press release calling the decision 'appalling'.  You can read the complete release here.

We will keep you updated via this, the IFAW seal hunt blog at blog.stopthesealhunt.com about our plans to let the world see the cruelty of this unnecessary commercial hunt. 

Please spread the word about this cause and tell friends to subscribe to this feed.  Thank you.

Submitted by J.C. Bouvier - IFAW Online Campaigns Staff

Hey, for those in Vancouver - The International Fund for Animal Welfare is hosting a Seal Photo exhibit on the Vancouver UBC campus on March 13.  On the 14th from 7 - 9PM IFAW's Dr. David Lavigne will discuss the current state of our fight in the Courtroom of the Vancouver Art Gallery...light food and refreshments will be served.

Download an Outlook Calendar Event Here.

Below is a special request from Robbie Marsland, Director of IFAW UK:

In a matter of weeks, the European Commission will make an announcement about the trade in seal products in Europe.

As you may know, there is already a ban, which forbids the trade in products from young harp and hooded seals. However, seals as young as 13 days old are currently killed to provide products for Europe and the rest of the world.

Please take action today and ask the UK Government to insist on a ban on trade in all seal products in Europe.

This is a rare chance to make a real difference and to help stop animal cruelty. Closing down markets for seal products will help bring commercial seal hunts to an end. Nothing less than a full ban on all seal products will do.

IFAW has conducted opinion polls across Europe, which show that the majority of people* are opposed to the Canadian commercial seal hunt and that the majority support a ban on the trade in seal products. In the UK, recent polls show that 69% of the public support such a ban.

I urge you to support this campaign today and thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Robbie Marsland
Director, IFAW UK

*Of those expressing an opinion. Polling was conducted in UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands,Belgium, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Slovenia and Finland.