Marine Mammals IWho are marine mammals? Marine mammals are a variety of species including: whales;  dolphins and porpoises; seals, otters, walruses, and sea lions; sea cows, Dugongs, and manatees; and polar bears. All of these animals are hunted for their trophy heads, ivory (used to make handcrafts), fur (skin), and meat. It would be a wonderful world for animals if everyone were vegan/vegetarian; ivory sales were truly outlawed; and fur coats remained on their original owners.

However, in lieu of realizing that dream, the populations of marine mammals should and can be humanely controlled without a wholesale slaughter.

Contraceptives Can Stop The Seal Kill
Seals are found throughout the world. Their primary habitat is in the frigid waters of the Arctic, Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic however, they can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, Caspian, and Baltic Seas.  Most seals are salt water but the unique Baikal seal lives in the freshwater of Lake Baikal in Russia. For a delightful primer on seals click here.

Quite honestly, no one in their right mind would kill baby seals unless they are driven by GREED AND VANITY. Greed and vanity have led to the slaughter of millions of seals and the decline of many seal populations. Two of the largest seal kills are in Canada and Namibia/South Africa. In 2006, a half million seals have or will be bludgeoned then skinned in those two slaughters. In close to 50% of the cases, the animals are still alive during the skinning process. Most of these are seal pups between 4 and 11 months old. 

The basis for the slaughter of seals is:
1. Seals compete with commercial fisherman for fish, so fisherman desire their extermination.
2. The beautiful fur coats of baby seals are used to make expensive fur coats for humans.
For complete details and up to date information about the Canadian seal kill go to: www.harpseals.org

The only humane solution beyond changing human values and attitudes towards seals, is the application of contraceptive to reduce seal numbers. Several contraceptives can be used that can be either remotely darted or injected after capture. The efficacy of seal contraceptive has been proven in numerous research studies. For example, studies using seals as subjects in zoos shows that 94% or higher were effectively contracepted with one dose of various hormonal (progesterone-type and luteinizing hormone) contraceptives. Contraception has also been proven to be effective in free-ranging seals as well as on seals in captivity (zoos and seaquariums).

Scientists at Dalhousie University in Canada developed a seal contraceptive vaccine in the 1990s. Field trials on the free-ranging grey seals of Sable Island have shown that the vaccine is highly effective. In Scotland, plans are underway to contracept the free-ranging seals that live on the shores of the Western isles, Orkney and Shetland. Boycott Companies & Restaurants That  Sell Canadian Seafood Go to this web page for a list of corporations and restaurant that have publicly joined the boycott to help end the Canadian Seal slaughter. Solicit restaurants that you patronize to sign the pledge (downloadable from the above website).