T ha nk T e a c he rs a nd the Sc ho o l fo r g iving us the o - - PDF document

SL IDE 1 Intr

• duc tion

T ha nk T e a c he rs a nd the Sc ho o l fo r g iving us the o ppo rtunity to spe a k to da y. I ntro duc tio n yo urse lf a nd Ha r pse a ls.o rg . HSO is b a se d in so uthe rn Ca lifo rnia a nd ha s a na tio na l pre se nc e a nd a ne two rk o f pe o ple a c ro ss the c o untry who a re wo rking to e nd the se a l hunt. As yo u’ ll se e , Ame ric a n c o nsume rs have the po we r to e nd this slaug hte r a nd o ur g o a l is to b ring a ware ne ss to this issue . We use a numb e r o f diffe re nt me tho ds inc luding : o ur we b site , se tting up info rma tio n b o o ths a t stre e t fa irs a nd fe stiva ls, pre se nta tio ns, b illb o a rds, T V a nd ra dio spo ts and e ve n ro c k c o nc e rt b e ne fits to ra ise mo ne y a nd a wa re ne ss. T he sub je c t we ’ ll b e disc ussing to da y c a n b e disturb ing and the ima g e s c a n b e ha rd to lo o k a t b ut it’ s impo rta nt to b e a wa re o f wha t’ s o c c urring in the wo rld a ro und us. T he ima g e s we ’ re g o ing to sho w a re no t o ve rly g ra phic b ut ke e p in mind tha t the re ’ s no sha me in c lo sing yo ur e ye s o r lo o king a wa y a t a ny time .

Impor tant: Our c a mpa ig n is no t a b o ut “b a shing ” Ca na dia ns! Mo st Ca na dia n c itize ns a re

• ppo se d to the hunt and we wo rk with se ve ra l la rg e g ro ups in Ca na da who a re a lso

wo rking ve ry ha rd to e nd the sla ug hte r. T he ta rg e ts o f o ur c a mpa ig n a re the Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt o ffic ia ls who a utho rize the hunt a nd the Ca na dia n F ishing I ndustry tha t c o nduc ts it. So me pe o ple ha ve q ue stio ne d why sho uld we b e c o nc e rne d a b o ut this issue o r e ve n a nima l we lfa re issue s in g e ne ra l whe n the re ’ s so ma ny o the r ho rrib le thing s g o ing o n to da y like g e no c ide s and wa rs? ? We ll, my a nswe r to tha t is tha t the re is a lso a n o n-g o ing Wa r o n Na ture . T his Wa r o n Na ture do e sn’ t ma ke the he a dline s o r na tio nal ne ws e ve ryda y so yo u’ ll o nly se e b its a nd pie c e s o f it in “b a c k pa g e ” ne ws a rtic le s like the : Ae ria l sho o ting o f wo lve s in Ala ska Bruta l killing o f o ve r a 1000 wha le s in a whale sa nc tua ry in Anta rc tic a Sla ug hte r o f e le pha nts in Afric a fo r the ir ivo ry Bruta l fur industry in China to supply the fa shio n ma rke ts in the US a nd E uro pe Sla ug hte r o f 20-30,000 do lphins a nd pilo t whale s in Ja pa n T he e stima te d 100 millio n sha rks tha t a re kille d a nnua lly wo r ldwide prima rily to supply the sha rk fin de ma nd in Asia Annua l Ca na dia n Se a l Hunt—the la rg e st sla ug hte r o f ma rine ma mma ls in the wo rld. And the list g o e s o n a nd o n…….

Pe o ple will a rg ue tha t we sho uldn’t c a re a b o ut suc h thing s b e c a use we ’ re supe rio r to a nima ls due to o ur inte lle c t a nd po we r o f r e a so ning a nd tha t ma y all b e true whe n me a sure d a g ainst OUR de finitio n o f inte llig e nc e ……but whe n it c o me s to fe e ling s o f pa in, to rme nt a nd suffe ring we a nd the a nima ls a r e e q ua ls a nd we sho uld NE VE R fo rg e t tha t. Ask a udie nc e : Ho w ma ny ha ve he a rd a b o ut the Ca na dia n se a l hunt b e fo re ? (sho w o f ha nds) Ask stude nts whe re the y le a rne d a b o ut it. No t a b o ut “b ashing ” Ca na dia ns.

• mo st Ca na dia ns a re o ppo se d to the hunt.
• we wo rk with se ve ra l la rg e o rg a niza tio ns in Ca na da
• T

a rg e t o f c a mpaig n: Ca nadia n g o v’ t o ffic ia ls a nd the Ca na dia n F ishing I ndustry.

SL IDE 2 What is a Har p Se al?

(Brie f disc ussio n o f se a ls in g e ne ra l a nd whe re ha rp se a ls fit in) 3 fa milie s o f pinnipe ds (tra nsla tio n: “fin-fo o te d”) E a c h fa mily ha s diffe re nt a nd uniq ue physic a l c ha ra c te ristic s. E a re d Se a ls: So me e xa mple s are ; Se a L io ns a nd No rthe rn F ur Se a ls Ma in physic al c ha ra c te ristic s: e xte rna l e ar fla ps. L

• ng fo r

e flippe rs witho ut fur. On la nd, wa lks o n a ll 4 flippe rs. (ha s a “hip” jo int a t the b a se o f spine a nd c a n pivo t re a r flippe rs unde r it’ s b o dy) T rue Se a ls: So me e xa mple s a r e ; e le pha nt se a ls, ha rb o r se als a nd o f c o urse , Ha rp Se a ls. Ma in physic al c ha ra c te ristic s: no e xte rna l e a r fla ps. Sho rt fo re flippe rs with c la ws. On la nd, the y lie o n the ir b e lly a nd pull the mse lve s fo rwa rd with the ir fo re flippe rs. Wa lruse s: Ha s so me c ha ra c te ristic s o f b o th E are d a nd T rue se a ls. No e xte rna l e a r fla ps. On la nd, wa lks o n a ll 4 flippe rs. Ha s la rg e tusks. No te : T he “ha rp” se a l na me c o me s fro m the da rk “U” sha pe d ma rking o n the b a c k o f the a dult se a ls. A lo ng time a g o so me o ne de c ide d tha t this “U” sha pe ma rk lo o ke d like a music a l ha rp.

SL IDE 3 Har p Seal L ife Cyc le

T hin White c o a t: Birth we ig ht: Ab o ut 24 lb s No fa t to insula te a g a inst c o ld a ir o r wa te r. E a c h ha ir is ho llo w to tra p a ir. Air wa rme d b y sun a nd b o dy he a t. Gains 4-5 lb s e a c h da y while nursing . Mo the r’ s milk ha s ve ry hig h fa t c o nte nt (45%). (Also c a lle d “ye llo wc o a t”. Ye llo w c o lo ring is sta in fro m a mnio tic fluid. Will wa sh/ fa de a wa y in 2-3 da ys) F a t White c o a t: (no t sho wn b ut fa t like ra g g e dy ja c ke t) 9-14 da ys o ld. 75-85 lb s. Mo the r we a ns pup a t 12-14 da ys o ld. Ra g g e dy Ja c ke t: mo lting o f white c o a t sta rts a t 14-18 da ys o ld. Be a te r: Ab o ut 18 da ys -1 ye a r o ld. T his is whe n mo st a re kille d. “Be a te r” na me c o me s fro m le a rning ho w to swim. T he y “b e a t” the ir flippe rs o n the wa te r whe n first le a rning to

• swim. T

his is a de fe nse le ss we a ne d b a b y se a l living o ff its fa t re se rve until it c an swim a nd hunt fo r fo o d. Afte r le a rning to swim the y usua lly e a t c ra b s a t first. Be dla me r: (no t sho wn-lo o ks like “Be a te r”) 1-4 ye a rs. Adult: a g e o f se xua lly ma turity: fe ma le s 4-6 ye a rs, ma le s 7-8 ye a rs. F e male s no rma lly ha ve 1 pup pe r ye ar. Afte r we a ning pup, fe ma le s will b e g in ma ting . Ge sta tio n is 11.5 mo nths, inc luding 3 mo nths o f de la ye d impla nta tio n. Birthing , nursing a nd ma ting a ll o c c ur within a 3-4 we e k pe rio d. Adult we ig ht: a b o ut 185-290 lb s. L ife spa n: 30-35 ye a rs

SL IDE 4 Har p Seal Die t

Die t: 67 diffe re nt va rie tie s o f fish. Ma inly c a pe lin, Arc tic c o d, po la r c o d a nd he rring . (All ha ve little c o mme rc ia l va lue ) Also ha lib ut, shrimp, sma ll c ra b s, sq uid. (T he sto ma c h c o nte nts o f o ve r 12,000 se a ls ha ve b e e n studie d in the pa st 40 ye a rs) pic ture d: to p: Atla ntic c o d, middle : c a pe lin, b o tto m: sq uid I wa nt to ta lk brie fly a b o ut the ir die t b e c a use until re c e ntly, the De pa rtme nt o f F ishe rie s a nd Oc e a ns (DF O) o f the Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt wa s b la ming the se a ls fo r the c o lla pse o f the va lua b le Atla ntic c o d fishe ry. F

• r ye a rs, the y sa id tha t the se a ls we re o ne o f the main

re a so ns the Atla ntic c o d po pula tio n c ra she d; o nc e the y sto ppe d spre a ding this misinfo rma tio n, the y c la ime d tha t the se a ls we re pre ve nting the re c o ve ry o f the fishe ry. T he y ha ve sinc e b a c ke d a wa y fro m this po sitio n a s we ll b e c a use the DF O sc ie ntists ha ve sa id the re is no sc ie ntific e vide nc e to suppo rt this. Ho we ve r, the re is sc ie ntific e vide nc e tha t Atla ntic c o d a c c o unts fo r o nly a b o ut 3% o f the se a l’ s die t. It ha s a lso b e e n do c ume nte d tha t the se a ls e a t ma ny o f the pre da to rs o f

yo ung c o d, inc luding sq uid. So me e xpe rts be lie ve tha t a larg e se a l po pula tio n is e sse ntia l to the ma inte na nc e o f a la rg e c o d po pula tio n. As the DF O sc ie ntists a c kno wle dg e , this is a ve ry c o mple x inte rde pe nde nt e c o lo g ic a l syste m a nd we do n’ t have a ll the a nswe rs. Wha t we do kno w is tha t DF O o ffic ia ls a nd No rwe g ia n fishe ry o ffic ia ls a llo we d o ve r-fishing

• f the No rth Atla ntic c o d to g o o n lo ng e no ug h to c a use a po pula tio n c o lla pse in the

1990’ s. Sta rting in the 60’ s, the fishing industry b e g a n using de struc tive industria l fishing me tho ds with ne w c la sse s o f ships c a lle d “dra g g e rs” a nd “tra wle rs” (whic h disrupt o r de stro y the flo r a a nd fa una o f the o c e a n b o tto m, the nursing g ro unds o f ma ny spe c ie s), with fe w g o ve rnme nt c o ntro ls o r re g ula tio ns. I n the la te 1980’ s, sc ie ntists wa rne d the g o ve rnme nt o f this impe nding disa ste r b ut the g o ve rnme nt o ffic ials to o k a “wa it a nd se e ” po sitio n b e c a use the y didn’ t wa nt to a ng e r the po we rful fishing industry. Co nside r this……I t’ s b e e n e stima te d tha t 500 hundre d ye a rs a g o , the re we re 25-30 millio n se a ls a nd a t the sa me time , the re wa s a thriving Atla ntic c o d po pula tio n. T he re a re writte n re c o rds o f e xplo re rs ma king slo w pro g re ss thr

• ug h this a re a o f the o c e a n due to the

a b unda nc e o f c o d. T his suppo rts the e vide nc e tha t a la rg e , he a lthy se a l po pula tio n is vita l to the va lua b le Atla ntic c o d. So me re so urc e s to le a rn mo re a b o ut Atla ntic c o d: http:/ / e n.wikipe dia .o rg / wiki/ Atla ntic _c o d

SL IDE 5 T hr e e Har p Se al Populations

3 distinc t po pula tio ns o f ha rp se a ls: Ba re nts Se a po pula tio n b re e ds in the White Se a . Po pula tio n: 300,000 - 1 millio n (e stima te d) E a st Gre e nla nd po pula tio n bre e ds ne a r Ja n Ma ye n I sla nd (We st Ic e ). Po pula tio n: 300,000 (e stima te d) No rthwe st Atla ntic po pula tio n b re e ds in the Gulf o f St. L a wre nc e and o ff the c o a st o f L a b ra do r. Po pula tio n: 4.5--5.8 millio n (e stima te d) T he po pula tio n numb e rs a r e o nly e stima te s. T he e xa c t numb e r o f se a ls in the se po pula tio ns is unkno wn. Co unting the se a ls is do ne b y a e ria l surve y a nd this me tho d is ve ry ina c c ura te . T

• da y’ s disc ussio n will c o nc e ntr

a te o n the Ne wfo undla nd a nd L a b ra do r are a whe re the ma ssive c o mme rc ia l sla ug hte r ta ke s pla c e e a c h spring . (No te : T he o the r po pula tio ns o f harp se a ls a r e a lso hunte d b ut o n a sma lle r sc a le .)

(6 spe c ie s o f se als live in the a rc tic re g io n. T he y’ re re fe rre d to a s “ic e se a ls” b e c a use the y live o n the ic e flo e s. Ring e d, Ho o de d, Be a rde d, Rib b o n, Spo tte d a nd Ha rp)

SL IDE 6 Migr ation and Whe lping Ar e as

Mig ra tio n pa tte rns o f the No rthwe st Atla ntic po pula tio n. I n la te spring the ha rp se a ls sta rt trave ling no r th fo llo wing the r e c e ding ic e pa c k. During the summe r mo nths, so me tra ve l fa r no rth to Ba ffin Ba y a nd o the rs tr a ve l to the so uthwe st c o a st o f Gre e nla nd. As winte r a ppro ac he s, the y sta rt mo ving so uth to the ir b re e ding g ro unds a s the ic e pa c k sta rts de ve lo ping so uthwa rd. T he he rd will the n divide into 2 g ro ups; o ne will g o to the b re e ding g ro unds o ff the c o a st o f L a b ra do r a nd the o the r g ro up will c o ntinue so uth to the b re e ding g ro unds in the Gulf o f Sa int L a wr e nc e . (No te : lo we r rig ht pho to : ve ry pre g na nt se a l)

SL IDE 7 Canada’s Killing F ie lds

T he “Gulf” o f St L a wre nc e T he L a b ra do r “F ro nt” Pha se 1 So uthe rn Gulf (sta rts a ro und Marc h 20th) Pha se 2 No rthe rn Gulf Pha se 3 L a b ra do r F ro nt (70% o f to ta l) No te : Po int o ut Ca na dia n Co a st Gua rd ic e b re a ke r le a ding a g ro up o f se a le rs thro ug h the ic e . T his will c o me up la te r in the disc ussio n a b o ut Ca na dia n g o ve r nme nt sub side s. No te : Only a ve ry sma ll numb e r o f indig e no us pe o ple are invo lve d in the c o mme r c ia l sla ug hte r o f b ab y se a ls. T he va st ma jo rity o f the se a le rs a re the de sc e nda nts o f the E uro pe a n se ttle rs who a rrive d in the e a r ly to mid 1800’ s. T he Ca na dia n Go ve rnme nt a utho rize s a sma lle r hunt fo r the I nuit’ s in the No rthe rn T e rrito ry

• f Nuna vut. I

nuit po pula tio n is a ppro x 30,000. T he kill q uo ta fo r Ca na da ’ s indig e no us pe o ple is usually a ro und 10,000. Ge ne ra lly, the y kill

• lde r se a ls a nd use the e ntire a nima l. Harpse a ls.o rg is wo rking to sto p the ma ssive

c o mme rc ia l hunt.

SL IDE 8 Canada’s Har p Se al Slaughte r

Ha rp se a ls have b e e n hunte d c o mme rc ia lly sinc e the e a rly 18th c e ntury. T he numb e r o f se a ls kille d o ve r the pa st 300 ye a rs we re as fo llo ws: e a rly 1700's e a rly 1900's (WWI

• WWI

I ) WWI I Po st-WWI - 1951 1952-1971 ~250,000/ ye a r ~150,000/ ye a r a lmo st no hunt inc re a se d to 450,000 288,000/ ye a r I n 1971, a q uo ta (T

• ta l Allo wa b le Ca tc h – T

AC) wa s fina lly se t afte r sc ie ntists a nd e nviro nme nta lists so unde d the a la rm o f a n impe nding po pula tio n c o lla pse due to the hig h le ve l o f hunting . T he first q uo ta wa s 245,000 se als. T he numb e r va rie d in this ra ng e , a nd the a c tual kill ra te a ve ra g e d 165,000 b e twe e n 1971 a nd 1982. I n 1983, the E uro pe a n E c o no mic Co mmunity b a nne d the impo rta tio n o f white c o a t pe lts. T his se ve re ly re duc e d the inc e ntive fo r se a le rs to kill se a ls, re sulting in a ve ra g e kill ra te s o f 52,000 pe r ye a r. During this time , the Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt a c tive ly wo rke d to de ve lo p ne w ma rke ts fo r se a l pe lts. T his le d to the e xplo ita tio n o f a lo o pho le in the E uro pe a n b a n. T he Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt sto ppe d the killing o f white c o a ts a nd pr

• mo te d the killing o f

b e a te rs inste a d. T he n in 1996, the kill q uo ta wa s inc re a se d to 250,000. It wa s inc re ase d a g a in to 275,000 in 1997-1999. Ac tua l kill ra te s during the se ye a r s ra ng e d fro m 242,000 to 282,000 se a ls (hig he r tha n the q uo ta ). No te : T he DF O do e s no t a sse ss a pe na lty whe n se a le rs e xc e e d the q uo ta . T he o nly re spo nse is to so me time s re duc e the q uo ta in sub se q ue nt ye ars (in the c a se o f multi-ye ar q uo ta a nno unc e me nts). I n 2003, the DF O a nno unc e d a 3 ye a r pla n in whic h a lmo st 1 millio n se a ls wo uld b e kille d. I n 2006, the kill q uo ta wa s 325,000. T he 2006 T AC wa s se t a t 335,000 - 85,000 hig he r tha n the ‘ susta ina b le yie ld’ e stima te d b y the DF O sc ie ntists. I n 2007, the q uo ta wa s re duc e d to 270,000 in re spo nse to the e xtre me ly hig h pup mo rta lity (se e sub se q ue nt slide ). No te : the se numbe rs do no t te ll the who le sto ry. T he se numbe rs do no t a c c o unt fo r the se a ls tha t a re “Str uc k a nd L

• st”. “Struc k a nd L
• st” me a ns tha t a fte r b e ing c lub b e d o r

sho t, the a nimal fe ll o r e sc a pe d into the wa te r a nd the se a le r s c o uldn’ t re trie ve it. Mo st o f the se a nima ls die unde r the ic e a nd a re ne ve r a c c o unte d fo r. T his o c c urs mo st fre q ue ntly in the “F ro nt” whe re mo st se als a re sho t fro m a b o a t. Se a le r s try to sho o t the m o nly o nc e so the pe lt is no t de va lue d a nd this inc re a se s the numb e r o f “struc k a nd lo st”. Ma ny pe o ple who have o b se rve d the hunt b e lie ve tha t the “struc k a nd lo st” se a ls c o uld c o nse rva tive ly a dd a no the r 15-20% to the numb e r o f de a d se a ls c o unte d. Re fe re nc e fo r mo re info rma tio n: re f: www.dfo -mpo .gc .c a / CSAS/ c sa s/ sta tus/ 2000/ E 1- 01e .pdf

SL IDE 9 Ne wfoundland and L abr ador T ime line (Optional – for matur e audie nc e s inte r e ste d in histor y)

Histo ry o f Se a ling a nd the Se a l-Co d Co ntro ve rsy I n 1497 e xplo re r Jo hn Ca b o t, sailing unde r the British fla g , sa ile d we st fro m E ng la nd to find a se a ro ute to Asia . I nste a d he disc o ve re d Ne wfo undla nd a nd the a b unda nt o ff-sho re fishing g ro unds, inc luding the Gra nd Ba nks. Afte r he r e turne d to E uro pe , the wo rd q uic kly spre a d a b o ut the “c o d tha t we re so thic k the y c o uld b e sc o o pe d up in b a ske ts.” F

• r the

ne xt 3 c e nturie s, fishing fle e ts fro m Spa in, Po rtug a l, F ra nc e a nd E ng la nd c o nsta ntly ma de the vo ya g e ac ro ss the Atla ntic to fish the wa te rs o ff Ne wfo undla nd. (No te : Jo hn Ca b o t’ s re a l na me wa s Gio va nni Ca b o to . He wa s b o rn in Ita ly a ro und 1455) (No te : the re ’ s e vide nc e tha t the first e xplo re rs fro m E uro pe whe re the Viking s who c a me 500 ye a rs e a rlie r b ut the y didn’ t sta y) I n the e a rly 1800’ s, E ng la nd de c ide d to e sta b lish se ttle me nts in Ne wfo undla nd so the re wo uld b e a lo c a l la b o r fo rc e to wo rk the c o d fishe ry. F ro m 1820-1840 the re wa s a la rg e influx o f immig ra nts fro m E ng la nd a nd I re la nd. F ro m this po int fo rwa rd, the c o d fishe ry b e c a me the mainsta y fo r jo b s and inc o me fo r the pe o ple o f Ne wfo undla nd a nd L a b ra do r. In fa c t, the c o d fishe ry wa s the o nly re a so n the y c a me . I n 1949, the pe o ple o f Ne wfo undla nd a nd L a b ra do r vo te d to b e c o me a pa rt o f the Ca na dia n Co nfe de ra tio n. I t wa s wo n b y a ve ry slim ma rg in (52% to 48%). Prio r to this, it wa s the “Do minio n o f Ne wfo undla nd” unde r British rule . T he b e g inning o f the e nd…… I n the 1950’ s, 60’s a nd 70’ s wo rld wide fishing fle e ts we r e mo de rnize d with ne w ship de sig ns a nd te c hno lo gie s a nd ma ny ne w “dra gg e rs” a nd “tra wle rs” we re built. T he se a re hug e ships a nd the tra wle rs we re spe c ific a lly de sig ne d to have c o ld sto ra g e to fre e ze the fish so the y c o uld sta y a t se a fo r mo nths. Co d fish a re b o tto m dwe lle rs a nd the se ships use d he a vy ma c hine ry to dra g hug e ne ts alo ng the b o tto m o f the o c e a n sc o o ping up e ve rything in it’ s pa th a nd de stro ying the hab ita t. T he he avy ne ts a re a s lo ng a s a fo o tb all fie ld a nd the y c a n ha ul up a s muc h a s 200 to ns o f fish in o ne ho ur. By the 1970’ s the re we re hundre ds o f the se ships fro m a ll o ve r the wo rld “strip-mining ” the se a s inc luding the wa te rs o ff Ne wfo undla nd. I t’ s a ve ry de struc tive a nd indisc rimina te me tho d o f fishing a nd hug e a mo unts o f fish we re c a ug ht. I n the ye a r s b e fo re the se industria lize d ships we re b uilt, the ave ra g e a nnua l Ne wfo undla nd c a tc h is e stima te d a t 250,000 me tric to ns. I n 1968, it wa s re po rte d tha t it pe a ke d a t 800,000 mt. I n a dditio n to ta king hug e a mo unts o f fish, the he avy ne ts dra g g ing alo ng the b o tto m de stro ye d the ha b ita t a nd this e limina te d future g e ne ra tio ns o f fish. (no te : 1 me tric to n = 2205 lb s) I n 1977, Ca na da , a nd we ll a s ma ny o the r c o untrie s, e sta b lishe d a n E xc lusive E c o no mic Zo ne (E E Z) whic h e xte nds 200 mile s fro m sho re . T his te rrito ria l zo ne wa s c re a te d b y a UN

inte rna tio na l tre a ty to b a n fo r e ig n fishing fle e ts (a nd o il e xplo ra tio n) fro m a c o unty’ s c o a sta l wa te rs. Be fo re this, fo re ig n fle e ts c o uld c o me a s c lo se a s 12 mile s fro m sho re . I n the o ry, the E E Z wa s to e nsure tha t e a c h c o untry wo uld ha ve mo re c o ntro l to c a re fully ma na g e the ir o c e a n re so urc e s. T he re ality in Ca na da wa s ve ry diffe re nt. Afte r c o mpe ting with fo re ig n fle e ts fo r de c a de s, the Ca nadia n fishing industry sa w this a s windfa ll to b e fully e xplo ite d. Inste a d o f putting so und c o nse r va tio n ma na g e me nt po lic ie s in pla c e , the g o ve rnme nt a llo we d the Ca nadia n fishing industry to e xpa nd it’ s o wn industria lize d fishing fle e t a nd b uild nume ro us fish pro c e ssing pla nts using g o ve rnme nt a ppro ve d lo a ns a nd ta x e xe mptio ns. T he fo r e ig n fle e ts ha d sha tte re d the e c o lo g y o f the c o d fishe ry a nd no w the Ca nadia n g o ve rnme nt pro c e e de d to finish it o ff. E ve n a fte r b e ing wa rne d b y the ir sc ie ntists in the la te 80’s, the po litic ia ns wo uldn’t ta ke a sta nd a g a inst the po we rful fishing industry. T he c o d fishe ry wa s do o me d. Be c a use o f wo rld wide pro te sts a nd pub lic o utc ry, in 1983 the E U pla c e d a te mpo r a ry b a n the impo rt o f white c o a t pro duc ts. In 1985, the b a n wa s e xte nde d fo r 2 ye a rs a nd a g a in in

• 1987. I

n 1989 the b a n wa s ma de pe rma ne nt. I n 1992 the Atla ntic c o d fishe ry c o lla pse d. I t b e c a me c o mme rc ia lly e xtinc t. Due to the E uro pe a n b a n a nd lo w de mand fo r se al pe lts, fro m 1983-1996 the numb e r o f se a ls kille d e ac h ye a r wa s sig nific a ntly re duc e d to a n a nnual a ve ra g e o f a b o ut 50,000. I n 1995, b e c a use the Ne wfo undla nd e c o no my wa s de va sta te d b y the fishe ry c o lla pse , the g o ve rnme nt de c ide d to re vive the se a l hunt. F ro m 1995-2000, the go ve rnme nt paid $20 millio n in dire c t a nd indire c t subside s to pro mo te the se a l hunt a nd de ve lo p ne w ma rke ts fo r se a l pro duc ts. I n 1996, the numb e r o f se a ls kille d wa s 240,000 a nd its b e e n ste a dily inc re a sing e ve r sinc e . Curre nt N & L industrie s in o rde r o f ra nking a r e : Oil, F ish Pro duc ts, Ne wsprint, I ro n Ore , E le c tric ity F

• r ma ny pe o ple in N&L

, the fishe ry is c o nside re d to b e a dying industry with ve ry little c ha nc e fo r re c o ve ry. Oil ha s no w ta ke n the pla c e o f the fishe ry a s N & L ’ s le a ding industry a nd ma ny pe o ple se e this a s the ir e c o no mic future . I n the pa st de c ade , pe o ple ha ve b e e n le aving N&L to find jo b s in o the r pa rts o f Cana da . No te : 52% o f a ll g o o ds pro duc e d in N&L a re e xpo rte d to the US. Curre nt po pula tio n o f N&L : ab o ut 520,000

SL IDE 10 Cr ue l Killing Me thods

De spite the Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt’ s c la im tha t b a b y se a ls a re no lo ng e r kille d, the fa c t is tha t 95% o f the se a ls kille d are 3-12 we e ks o ld. T he Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt c la ims tha t

• nc e se a ls a re we a ne d (a t a b o ut 2 we e ks o f a g e ), the y a re no lo ng e r pups. (Using this

de finitio n with do g s, a t a g e 4 we e ks, a do g b e c o me s a n a dult). T he q uo ta syste m ma ke s the sla ug hte r e spe c ia lly c rue l. Se a le rs a re c o mpe ting with e a c h

• the r to kill o r stun a s ma ny a s the y c a n a s quic kly a s the y c a n. T

he o ne s tha t a re stunne d a nd injure d a r e le ft fo r lo ng pe rio ds o f time b e fo re the y a re fina lly put o ut o f the ir mise ry. By la w, the y a re suppo se d to pe rfo rm a “blink-re fle x” te st to insure the se a l is de a d b e fo re mo ving o n to the ne xt a nima l. I t’ s we ll do c ume nte d tha t this is ra re ly pe rfo rme d. T he hunt ta ke s pla c e o ve r a la rg e a re a a nd the re is o nly minima l mo nito ring to e nsure tha t the re g ula tio ns a re be ing fo llo we d. T he re is a lo ng histo ry o f minima l e nfo rc e me nt a nd ve ry fe w pe na ltie s fo r the nume ro us vio la tio ns. Ho w do the se a le rs kill the se a l? I n the Gulf: Ga ff (lo ng stic k with ho o ke d b la de a t e nd, kno wn in e a ste rn Ca na da a s a “ha ka pik”) is use d. Go a l: to c rush the skull, c a using le ss da ma g e to fur tha n sho o ting . Ho we ve r, a c c o rding to a ve te rina ry study, 17% o f the c a rc a sse s e xa mine d ha d no skull fra c ture s a nd a no the r 25% ha d minima l to mo de ra te fra c ture s, indic a ting tha t the se a ls we re c o nsc io us whe n skinne d. (Se e http:/ / www.ifa w.o rg / ifa w/ dimag e s/ c usto m/ 2_Pub lic a tio ns/ Se a ls/ se a ls_ve t_re po rt_re vie w. pdf fo r a re vie w o f the study.) T he F ro nt: Rifle s a re use d due to ha rsh c o nditio ns, se a ls b e ing o lde r a nd mo re mo b ile , a nd le ss ic e a t this time . (T his se g me nt o f the sla ug hte r

• c c urs 2-3 we e ks a fte r the killing in the Gulf.) On the F

ro nt, the b o a t will g e t c lo se to se a ls, a nd the n the y’ re sho t fro m the b o a t. Se a ls are re trie ve d with ho o ks plung e d into the ir b o die s. T he y a r e no t a lwa ys de a d whe n this is do ne . Sinc e 1998, a nima l pro te c tio n g ro ups ha ve sub mitte d vide o e vide nc e o f mo re tha n 700 a ppa re nt vio la tio ns o f the Ca na da ’ s Ma rine Ma mma l Re g ula tio ns—inc luding se a ls b e ing skinne d a live . T

• da te , no t a sing le c ha rg e ha s b e e n la id in re spo nse .

Pub lic o pinio n po lls sho w tha t: Ma jo rity o f Ca na dia ns a re a g ainst the hunt (62%-79% de pe nding o n the po ll) 80% o f Ame ric a ns a re o ppo se d to the hunt

Show HSUS DVD: “Be ar ing Witne ss” 2005 Se al Hunt fe atur ing Rebe c c a Aldwor th

(11 minute s lo ng ) Give ve ry b rie f “b a c kgro und” o f vide o a nd Re b e c c a . No te : T e ll a udie nc e the re is o ne sc e ne (a ppro x 3-4 se c o nds) tha t is ha rd to wa tc h a nd yo u will g ive the m a fe w se c o nds wa rning b e fo re it c o me s o n. (It’ s a c lo se -up o f the fac e o f a dying se a l c ho king o n its b lo o d)

SL IDE 11 Spr ing 2007: Anothe r Ye ar

• f Unusual We athe r

Glo b a l Clima te Cha ng e a nd the Ha rp Se a ls Ha rp se a l mo the rs g ive b irth to the ir pups o n se a ic e . T he se a l pups r e q uire thic k, sturdy ic e to ho ld the m fo r the first fe w we e ks o f the ir life , b e fo re the y le a rn to swim. T hin ic e is da ng e ro us sinc e winte r sto rms a nd windy we a the r c a use this ic e to b re a k up, dro pping se a l pups in the wa te r, whe re the y dro wn. I n the pa st fe w ye a r s, the se a ic e ha s b e e n fo rming la te a nd le ss a nd le ss ha s fo rme d in the Gulf o f St. L a wre nc e . Sc ie ntists ha ve re c o rde d b e lo w a ve ra g e ic e c o nditio ns in the Gulf o f St. L a wre nc e a nd o ff Ne wfo undla nd fo r the pa st nine o ut o f 11 ye a rs. I n 2002, 75% o f ha rp se al pups b o rn in the Gulf die d due to la c k o f ic e b e fo re the hunt e ve n b e g a n. I n 2007, the se a ic e pa ns we re so po o r tha t a lmo st a ll o f the se a ls b o rn in the Gulf o f St. L a wre nc e dro wne d. Ae ria l surve illa nc e sho we d o nly a fe w se a ls, whe re a s no rma lly, o ve r a hundre d tho usa nd se a ls wo uld b e b o rn in the Gulf. Ma ny se a ls ma y ha ve fa lle n o ff the ic e flo e s a nd dro wne d a nd o the rs ma y ha ve b e e n b o rn in the wa te r if the mo the rs c o uld no t find suita b le ic e . T he se se als wo uld dro wn imme dia te ly. Altho ug h se a ic e fo rma tio n sinc e 1969 ha s be e n c yc lic a l, the pe rio d o f b e lo w a ve ra g e ic e fo rma tio n ha s la ste d sig nific a ntly lo nge r tha n pre vio usly se e n during the pe rio d 1969 – to da y. T his e xte nde d pe rio d o f po o r se a ic e fo rma tio n a lso c o inc ide s with inc re a sing g lo b a l ne a r surfa c e te mpe r a ture s a nd the re duc tio n o f ic e o ve r the e ntire Arc tic re g io n, sug g e sting tha t glo b a l c lima te c ha ng e is a ffe c ting the situa tio n in the Gulf. Sinc e the c o nc e ntra tio n o f c a rb o n dio xide in the a tmo sphe re c o ntinue s to r ise a nd g lo b al wa rming is e xpe c te d to wo rse n in the c o ming ye a rs, the po pula tio n o f ha rp se a ls c a n b e e xpe c te d to de c re a se , re g a rdle ss o f the Ca na dian kill q uo ta . T he q uo ta wo uld b e e xpe c te d to a c c e le ra te the po pula tio n de c line . Ano the r we a the r a no ma ly o c c urre d in April 2007, o n the ‘ F ro nt’ . T he re , thic k ic e fo rme d la te in the whe lping se a so n, c a using se a ling b o a ts to g e t stuc k in the ic e . Ab o ut 100 lo ng - line r se a ling ve sse ls we re stuc k in the ic e , so me o f the m de stro ye d by the fo rc e o f the he a vy ic e a g ainst the ships. T his wa s la b e le d a ‘ fre a k b uild-up o f pac k ic e ’ a nd ‘ the wo rst a nyo ne the re c o uld re me mb e r.’ Re fe re nc e fo r mo re info rma tio n: http:/ / www.ifa w.o rg / ifa w/ dimag e s/ c usto m/ 2_Pub lic a tio ns/ Se a ls/ Glo b a l_Wa rming _se a ls.p df

SL IDE 12 Canadian Gove r nme nt Position

T he Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt sa ys the se al hunt is: “Susta ina b le , Via b le a nd Huma ne ”

Re spo nse to “Susta ina b le ” (re c e nt sta te me nts fro m the DF O a r e in q uo te s) “Almo st triple what it was in the 70’ s....” Wha t the y’ re no t te lling yo u is tha t in the 1950’s a nd 60’ s the numbe r o f se a ls kille d e a c h ye a r wa s a b o ut the sa me a s it is no w a nd in the 1970’ s the se al po pula tio n c ra she d to a b o ut 1.7 millio n. Co nside ring the e nviro nme nta l va ria b le s we fac e to da y suc h as g lo b a l wa r ming , ma ny le a ding sc ie ntists a nd b io lo g ists a re ve ry c o nc e rne d tha t the c urre nt le ve l o f killing is no t susta ina ble a nd c o uld c ause the se a l po pula tio n to ra pidly c o lla pse a g a in. I n re c e nt ye a rs, a c c o rding to DF O sc ie ntists, the po pula tio n ha s de c line d. “Manag e d o n so c io -e c o no mic c o nside ratio ns…..” T he Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt ha s a llo we d the se al po pula tio n to b e de c ima te d in the pa st. No w the y sa y the ‘ hunt’ will b e “Ma na g e d o n so c io -e c o no mic c o nside ra tio ns until 70% po pula tio n le ve l is re a c he d.” T he te rm “so c io -e c o no mic ” is just a no the r wa y o f sa ying “po litic s a nd mo ne y”. T he po litic ia ns, no t the sc ie ntists, de te rmine the se a ling po lic y. T he fo rme r Ministe r o f F ishe rie s a nd Oc e a ns, Jo hn E ffo rd, sa id in 1998, “ I wo uld like to se e the 6 millio n se als, o r wha te ve r numb e r is o ut the re , kille d o r so ld, o r de stro ye d o r b urne d. I do no t c a re wha t ha ppe ns to the m…..the mo re the y kill the be tte r I will lo ve it.” “Manag e d with a pre c autio nary appro ac h…” T he Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt c la ims tha t it ma na g e s the o c e a ns a nd the se a ls with a “pre c a utio nary a ppro a c h”. Ho we ve r, in 2006, whe n the po o r se a ic e c a use d tho usa nds o f se a ls to dro wn, the DF O inc re a se d the kill q uo ta to 325,000, 5000 mo re tha n in 2005. I n 2007, the q uo ta wa s still ne a r histo ric le ve ls, a t 270,000. In fa c t, so ma ny se a ls die d prio r to the ‘ hunt’ , tha t the q uo ta c o uld no t e ve n b e re a c he d. Re spo nse to “Via b le ” T he Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt c la ims the hunt is e c o no mic a lly via ble a nd a b le to sta nd o n its

• wn. F

ro m 1995-2000, the g o ve rnme nt spe nt $20 millio n do lla rs in ta xpa ye r mo ne y to pro mo te the hunt a nd de ve lo p ne w ma rke ts. T he g o ve rnme nt c urre ntly is funding e ffo rts to c o unte r the Ca na dia n se afo o d b o yc o tt and the E uro pe a n pe lt impo rt b a ns (a t ta xpa ye r e xpe nse ). T he y a lso c o ntinue to pr

• vide fe de ra lly funde d suppo rt se rvic e s

inc luding Co a st Gua rd ships, ic e b r e a ke rs, pla ne s a nd he lic o pte rs--a ll a t ta xpa ye r’ s e xpe nse . I n 2007, Co a st Gua rd se rvic e s to fre e se a ling b o a ts stuc k in the ic e , b ring fo o d to the se a le rs o n tho se b o a ts, a nd tra nspo rt se a le rs in he lic o pte rs c o st o ve r CAN$3 millio n. Re spo nse to “Huma ne ” T he re a re two ve te rina ria n re po rts tha t are mo st o fte n c ite d: 1) a re po rt o f a n inte rna tio nal ve te rina ry pa ne l, b a se d o n o b se rva tio ns o f the 2001 se a l hunt, a nd a re vie w o f vide o fo o ta g e o f se aling a c tivitie s re c o r de d b y the I nte rna tio na l F und fo r Anima l We lfa re (I F AW) fro m 1998-2000 (he re a fte r re fe rre d to a s Burdo n e t a l.)

2) a re po rt publishe d b y five Ca na dia n ve te rina ria ns, also b a se d o n o b se rva tio ns o f the 2001 se a l hunt, a nd a re vie w o f vide o fo o ta ge o b ta ine d b y I F AW fo r the 2001 hunt (he re a fte r re fe r re d to a s Da o ust e t a l.). T he “re sults” o f the se two studie s a re typic a lly pre se nte d as fo llo ws:

• Oppo ne nts o f the hunt c la im tha t up to 42% o f se a l c a rc a sse s e xa mine d b y Burdo n e t a l.

we re like ly c o nsc io us whe n skinne d a nd c o nc lude tha t the hunt is una c c e ptab ly inhuma ne

• I

n c o ntra st, suppo rte rs o f the hunt, pa rtic ula rly the Ca na dia n De partme nt o f F ishe rie s a nd Oc e a ns (DF O), c ite Da o ust e t a l. a nd c la im tha t 98% o f the se als “a re kille d in a n a c c e pta b ly huma ne ma nne r” T he truth: T he Burdo n e t al. study a ddre sse s the q ue stio n o f whe the r se a ls we re like ly c o nsc io us o r unc o nsc io us a t the time the y we re skinne d, using po st-mo rte m e xamina tio n o f skulls. On the o the r ha nd, the '98% huma ne ' fig ur e c ite d fro m Da o ust e t a l.’ s r e po rt re pre se nts the numb e r o f se als c lub b e d o r sho t tha t we re b ro ug ht o n b o a rd se a ling ve sse ls while still c o nsc io us. T ha t numb e r ig no re s a ny a nd all a nima l suffe ring tha t o c c urs b e twe e n the time a nima ls a re c lubb e d o r sho t until the y e ve ntua lly re a c h a se a ling ve sse l, usua lly o n the e nd

• f a ho o k o r g a ff. I

t do e s no t b e g in to me a sure whe the r o r no t se a ls we re kille d in a n “a c c e pta b ly huma ne ” ma nne r. T he fre q ue ntly c ite d fig ure s fro m b o th re po rts ig no re the numb e r o f se a ls tha t e sc a pe into the se a a s wo unde d (struc k a nd lo st) a nima ls. In a dditio n, a va rie ty o f o the r da ta pre se nte d in the Da o ust e t a l. re po rt a c tua lly pro vide suppo rt fo r Burdo n e t a l.’ s c o nc lusio n tha t Ca na da ’ s c o mme rc ia l se a l hunt re sults in “c o nside ra ble a nd una c c e ptab le suffe ring .” T he a va ila b le e vide nc e sug g e sts tha t te ns

• f tho usa nds o f ha rp se a ls – mo stly pups unde r the a ge o f thre e mo nths – die in a ma nne r

tha t is inc o nsiste nt with c o nte mpo ra ry a nima l we lfa re sta ndards. F

• r mo re info rma tio n o n the two studie s:

http:/ / www.ifa w.o rg / ifa w/ dimag e s/ c usto m/ 2_Pub lic a tio ns/ Se a ls/ se a ls_ve t_re po rt_re vie w. pdf

SL IDE 13 Why Doe s the Killing Continue ?

Altho ug h ma ny Ne wfo undla nde rs still be lie ve tha t killing the se a ls will he lp the c o d po pula tio n re c o ve r (a s a re sult o f prio r g o ve rnme nt pro pa g anda a nd the fa ilure o f the Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt to a c tive ly c o rre c t prio r misinfo rma tio n), the Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt no lo ng e r lists this a s a mo tiva tio n fo r se a ling . Ne ve rthe le ss, the fishing industry (o f whic h the se a le rs a re a part) is the ma in pro po ne nt o f the sla ug hte r. No t o nly do fishe rme n pa rtic ipa te in the se a ling , b ut o ne o f the la rg e st Ca na dia n fishing c o rpo ra tio ns

(the Ba rry Gro up) o wns the se c o nd la rg e st se a l skin pro c e ssing pla nt (Atla ntic Ma rine Pro duc ts). I n a dditio n, so me fishing c o rpo ra tio ns tha t a re no t invo lve d in se a ling a lso suppo rt se a ling as a re sult o f the be lie f tha t killing pr e da to rs o f the se a (i.e ., se a ls) will he lp inc re a se the ir fish c a tc he s. T he Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt sa ys tha t the ha rp se al po pula tio n is ‘ he a lthy a nd a b unda nt’ b ut do e s no t c la im tha t it is to o la rg e e ve n tho ug h the g o a l o f the 3 ye a r ‘ ma nag e me nt pla n’ a nd sub se q ue nt ‘ ma na g e me nt pla ns’ ha s b e e n to re duc e the size o f the po pula tio n. T he Ca nadia n g o ve rnme nt a sse rts tha t, sinc e 1970, the ha rp se a l po pula tio n ha s ne a rly triple d in size . I t is impo rta nt to re me mb e r tha t b e twe e n 1950 a nd 1970, e xc e ssive killing had re duc e d the po pula tio n b y a s muc h a s 66%, putting ha rp se a ls in da ng e r o f e xtinc tio n. T he Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt sa ys this ‘ hunt’ is ma rke t-drive n (inte nde d to he lp fishe rme n e a rn mo re mo ne y a nd impro ve the ir sta nda rd o f living ). I n re a lity, fishe rme n o nly e a rn a b o ut 5% o f the ir inc o me fro m se a ling . Ca pta ins o f se a ling b o a ts c a n e a rn o ve r CAN$10,000 in a se a so n (e ve n te ns o f tho usands o f Ca na dia n do lla rs), b ut se a le rs e a rn

• nly se ve ra l hundre d to a c o uple tho usa nd do lla rs o n a ve ra g e .

T he Ministe r o f F ishe rie s a nd Oc e a ns, who re pre se nts the DF O in Pa rlia me nt tra ditio nally ha ils fro m Ne wfo undla nd. T hus the inte re sts o f the Ne wfo undla nde rs (whe re mo st se a le rs a re fro m) de te rmine the po lic ie s o f the DF

• O. T

his is o ne re a so n why the se al ‘ hunt’ c a n c o ntinue de spite disa ppro va l b y the ma jo r ity o f Ca na dia ns. Ano the r re a so n the killing c o ntinue s is tha t se a le rs do no t like to b e to ld (mo stly b y fo re ig ne rs) tha t the y must sto p this pra c tic e a nd tha t wha t the y a re do ing is b a rba ric . I n a dditio n, so me se a le rs ha ve g o ne o n re c o rd sa ying tha t the y do this fo r a muse me nt - tha t the inc o me is no t a sig nific a nt mo tiva to r a nymo re .

SL IDE 14 Str ate gy to Stop the Slaughte r : Canadian Se afood Boyc ott

Bo yc o tt la unc he d in 2004 b y Ha r pse a ls.o rg (in 2005 b y HSUS) T he DF O ha s sa id tha t whe n the Ca na dia n fishing industry de ma nds tha t the se al ‘ hunt’ e nd, a nd o nly the n, the se a l ‘hunt’ will sto p. T he Ca na dia n se a fo o d b o yc o tt is the mo st dire c t wa y to ta rg e t the se a le rs. T he y c a nno t se ll the se a l pro duc ts in the U.S. (due to the U.S. Ma rine Ma mma l Pro te c tio n Ac t*), b ut the y do se ll the se a fo o d the y c a tc h he re . Sinc e the b o yc o tt b e ga n, the re ha s b e e n a $400 millio n de c line in Ca na dia n se a fo o d sa le s to the U.S.. (T his is due to se ve ra l fa c to rs, inc luding no rma l pr ic e fluc tua tio ns, supply inc re a se s fro m o the r c o untrie s, the we a k U.S. do lla r, e tc . in a dditio n to the b o yc o tt.)

T

• put it into pe rspe c tive :

Ca na dia n po pula tio n: 33 millio n Unite d Sta te s po pula tio n: 295 millio n (Ca lifo rnia : 36 millio n) T he U.S. is Ca na da ’ s la rg e st e xpo rt ma rke t b y fa r! As e ne rg y a nd transpo rta tio n c o sts inc re a se , we will b e c o me e ve n mo re impo rta nt to the ir e c o no my. As the U.S. do lla r c o ntinue s to we a ke n, the b o yc o tt b e c o me s a mo re a nno ying tho rn in the side o f the Ca na dia n fishing industry – a t a time whe n the y a re a lre a dy ha ving tro ub le e xpo rting to the U.S. b e c a use o f the de c line o f the U.S. do lla r. Se a l pe lts: $16 millio n = le ss tha n ½ o f 1% o f the to ta l se a fo o d industry. Additio na l b o yc o tts tha t Ha rpse a ls.o rg a nd Se a She phe rd a re pro mo ting : Ca na dia n T

• ur

ism Bo yc o tt. 80% o f the to urists visiting Ca na da c o me fro m the US. 2010 Winte r Olympic s (ho ste d b y Ca na da ) *T his is a g o o d time to g e t the a udie nc e invo lve d a nd ask the m if the y kno w why we c a n’ t b uy se a l fur o r o the r ma rine ma mma l pro duc ts in the Unite d Sta te s. Answe r: I n 1972, Co ng re ss pa sse d the Ma rine Ma mma l Pro te c tio n Ac t. (Ho we ve r, the re a re so me e xc e ptio ns tha t allo w indig e no us trib a l hunting o f se a ls, wa lruse s a nd wha le s in Ala ska ) . T his ma y a lso be a g o o d time to me ntio n tha t the Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt ha s b e e n lo o king into using fre e tra de ag re e me nts to fo rc e the U.S. a nd o the r c o untrie s tha t ha ve re c e ntly b a nne d se a l pro duc t impo rts to re pe a l the se la ws.

SL IDE 15 E ur

• pe T

ake s Ac tion

Re c e nt Go o d ne ws fro m E uro pe . Se pt 2006- E uro pe a n Pa rlia me nt (le g isla tive b ra nc h o f E U) pa sse d a re so lutio n to b a n all ha rp & ho o de d se a l pro duc ts in the E U (27 c o untie s). Appro ve d b y 425 me mb e rs o f Pa rlia me nt whic h wa s the la rg e st numb e r o f me mb e rs to e ve r a ppro ve a writte n de c la ra tio n in the histo ry o f the E uro pe a n Pa rlia me nt. T he ne xt ste p was to have the E uro pe a n Co mmissio n (e xe c utive b ra nc h) imple me nt a nd e nfo rc e the b a n. Ho we ve r, the E uro pe a n Co mmissio n sa id the y ne e de d to study the b e fo re ta king a ny furthe r ac tio n. I n the Spring o f 2007, the Co mmissio n se nt re pre se nta tive s to o b se rve the se a l ‘ hunt’ . F urthe r a c tio n is pe nding .

Ho we ve r, individua l na tio ns in E uro pe a nd e lse whe re ha ve ta ke n unila te ra l ste ps to wa rds b a nning se al impo rts. Be lg ium pa sse d the ir o wn la w b a nning impo rts o f se a l pro duc ts, a nd the British g o ve rnme nt is a pplying he a vy pre ssure o n the E uro pe a n Co mmissio n to imple me nt the b a n. (o pinio n po ll: 73% o f British pe o ple suppo rt the b a n) . Be side s Be lg ium---I ta ly, the Ne the rla nds a nd the UK a re a lso in the pro c e ss o f imple me nting the ir o wn b a ns. Mo re g o o d ne ws. T he Co unc il o f E uro pe (46 me mb e r c o untrie s) a lso pa sse d a re so lutio n urg ing E uro pe an na tio ns to b a n se a l pro duc ts in No ve mb e r, 2006.

SL IDE 16 Main Opposition Gr

• ups

Ha rpse a ls.o rg : T he o nly o rg a niza tio n fo c use d e ntire ly o n this issue . Pro g ra ms inc lude dire c t

• utre a c h (distrib uting le a fle ts na tio nwide via vo lunte e r ne two rk, ta b ling a t fe stiva ls,

fa rme rs’ ma rke ts, ho sting b e ne fit c o nc e rts, e tc .), pro mo ting the b o yc o tt via ma ss me dia (T V, ra dio , print, billb o a rd a dve rtising ; pub lic ity), o rg a nizing pro te sts, g iving pre se nta tio ns, b ring ing a ll o ppo sitio n g ro ups to g e the r, c o o r dina ting vo lunte e r e ffo rts inc luding re c ruiting re sta ura nts to the Ca na dia n se a fo o d b o yc o tt, de ve lo ping pro g ra ms to g e t kids invo lve d in he lping the se a ls. Se a She phe rd: (www.se a she phe rd.o r g ) : Dire c t a c tio n fo c us. Bring s ships to the ic e flo e s during the se a l sla ug hte r, to the o pe n o c e a n to disrupt the Ja pa ne se wha ling , to the Ga la pa g o s to pro te c t wildlife fro m po ac he rs, e tc . Also pro mo ting the Ca nadia n se a fo o d b o yc o tt via re sta ura nt re c ruitme nt a nd the Se a l o f Appro va l Ca mpa ig n. HSUS (www.pro te c tse a ls.o rg ) : Pro mo ting the Ca na dia n se afo o d b o yc o tt via re sta urant a nd sto re re c ruitme nt. Se nd o b se rve rs to the ic e flo e s during the sla ug hte r to do c ume nt/ vide o ta pe it. E uro pe a n wing wo rking with lo c a l E uro pe a n o rg a niza tio ns to b a n impo rts o f a ll se a l pro duc ts. Anima l Allia nc e Ca nada (www.a nima la llia nc e .c a ) : Pro mo ting the Ca na dia n se a fo o d b o yc o tt via pro te sts, we b site , a nd re sta ura nt re c ruitme nt. Ca mpa ig ning in Ca na da to influe nc e Ca nadia ns to a c tive ly se e k a n e nd to the sla ug hte r. I F AW (www.sto pthe se a lhunt.c a ): Autho ring o r spo nso ring sc ie ntific pa pe rs o n the se a ls a nd the se a l slaug hte r. Se nds o bse rve rs to do c ume nt the killing . Ca mpaig ning in Ca na da to influe nc e Cana dia ns to a c tive ly se e k a n e nd to the sla ug hte r.

SL IDE 17 How You Can He lp

Ask a udie nc e to sig n up o n the we b site to re c e ive Ha rpse a ls.o rg e ma il ne wsle tte rs . F

• r le tte r writing info / a ddre sse s a nd ma ny ide a s o n ho w to he lp, a dvise pe o ple to g o to

the Ha rpse als.o rg we b site . A fe w sug g e stio ns:



Ra ise funds fo r a ds fo r the se a ls b y ma king a nd se lling “se a l ro c ks”, o rg a nizing a b e ne fit c o nc e rt o r ta le nt sho w, o rg a nizing a to urna me nt o r c arniva l, e tc … (We ha ve a n instruc tio ns o n the kids4se a ls.o rg we b site fo r ma king se a l ro c ks.)



Distrib ute le a fle ts a t re sta ura nts a nd sto re s



Se t up info rma tio n ta b le s a t sc ho o l a nd a t e ve nts, fa rme rs’ ma rke ts, e tc .



Drive a ro und in a Se a lmo b ile



Write a n a rtic le fo r the sc ho o l pa pe r



Do a sho w o r g e t o ur PSA o n the c a mpus ra dio sta tio n (do wnlo a d the PSA’ s o n the we b site )



Org a nize a de mo nstra tio n



Ge t the dining halls o r c a fe te r ia s a nd ne ig hb o rho o d sto re s a nd re sta ura nts to jo in the Ca na dia n se a fo o d b o yc o tt.



Ha ng a b a nne r o utside yo ur a pa rtme nt o r do rm.



T a lk to yo ur fr ie nds a nd re la tive s a b o ut the se a ls, a nd e nc o ura g e the m to jo in the b o yc o tt.



We a r Ha rpse a ls.o rg t-shirts, c a rry Ha rpse a ls.o rg b a gs, e tc . – b e yo ur o wn b illb o a rd.



Put info o n Myspa c e , F a c e b o o k, e tc . (inc luding links to Ha rpse a ls.o rg ).



Spe nd so me time re vie wing the Harpse a ls.o rg we b site . All the info rma tio n yo u’ ll ne e d is the re .

SL IDE 18 T ake Ac tion – Join Us! Conc lusion, Q & A

Q & A Se ssio n No te : A g o o d q ue stio n tha t is fre q ue ntly a ske d: I f we sto p b uying the ir se a fo o d, wo n’ t the fishe rme n just kill mo re se a ls to ma ke up fo r the lo ss? No . T he Ne wfo undla nd fishing industry is wo rth a b o ut CAN$1 b illio n. If the y kille d o ne millio n se a ls, the y wo uld g e t b e twe e n CAN$50 a nd CAN$100 millio n. T he y c a n’ t ma ke up the diffe re nc e . Mo re o ve r, we a re b o yc o tting the E NT IRE Ca na dia n se a fo o d industry, so the fishe rme n in o the r a re a s o f Ca na da do n’t ha ve the o ptio n o f killing mo re se a ls. T he se fishe rme n a re pa rt o f the pro b le m sinc e the y e ithe r e xplic itly suppo rt the se a l sla ug hte r o r re ma in sile nt, ta c itly a ppro ving it. Whe n the fishing unio ns a nd the fishing industry lo se mo re inc o me tha n the y c a n b e a r, the y will be fo rc e d to vig o ro usly push fo r a n e nd to the sla ug hte r, fo r whic h mo st Ca na dia n fishe rme n re c e ive no b e ne fit. (no te : in the re c e nt pa st, Ca na dia n g o ve rnme nt o ffic ia ls ha ve sa id the y will sto p the se a l hunt o nly whe n the fishing industry te lls the m to do so ) T ha nk a udie nc e a nd ho sts.