A review of animal welfare implications of the Canadian commercial seal hunt – a response to critique of paper MP13 172

• Main Authors: Butterworth, Andrew, Richardson, Mary
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Canada; Harp Seal; Phoca groenlandica; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X13001528

Canada's commercial seal hunt warrants close examination in that it is the largest kill of marine mammals on earth, it exists for commercial reasons, it targets deep diving seals with unique physical adaptations, and it is conducted in a particularly remote and uncontrolled environment amidst unstable sea ice and extreme weather conditions. For these reasons, commercial sealing in Canada has been the subject of regular veterinary scrutiny for more than five decades. In that time, despite repeated recommendations and some changes to the regulations, considerable evidence continues to be presented during each new season of poor welfare outcomes for seals. Seal hunt; Animal welfare; Marine mammal regulations; Harp seal; Phoca groenlandica; Post mortem;