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.}

In this podcast produced by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, senior researcher Sheryl Fink relates her experience while on the ice during the 2009 Canadian commercial seal hunt. Take action today: http://www.stopthesealhunt.org

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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.

In this podcast produced by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, senior researcher Sheryl Fink talks about her experiences while on the ice during the 2009 Canadian commercial seal hunt.

Right-click here to download the podcast.

This short piece created by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, makes the point that the Canadian seal hunt quota has increased in a year when the European Union is voting on enacting more stringent bans on the importation of seal products from Canada and the Russian government has banned the hunting of harp seal pups under 1 year of age.

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In this Seal Hunt 2009 podcast, the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Patricia Zaat discusses the steps required to secure observers permits for the Canadian commercial seal hunt.

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The International Fund for Animal Welfare's Sheryl Fink talks about day one of the 2009 Canadian commercial seal hunt. Take action to end this cruel hunt today.

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In this edition of the Seals News Podcast, the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Seals Communications Officer Katie McConnell speaks about a suggested ban of the Hakapik and the effect of European efforts to ban the import of seal products on the Canadian sealing industry.

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WARNING: This Video contains graphic images of seal hunting.

In this video, the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Research Scientist Sheryl Fink talks about this opening day footage of the 2008 Canadian commercial seal hunt.

“We will use every avenue we can within the law to keep people as far away from the hunt as we can.” Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn, before the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.  October, 2006.

And so they did. Today was the opening day of the commercial harp seal hunt here in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and even though we had long ago filled out our observation licence applications, gone through the personal interviews, and paid our licence fees, the seal hunt was opened with not a single observer licence issued.

We decided to head out anyway.