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The campaign to end Canada's brutal commercial seal hunt is one of the most iconic animal rights campaigns in history, dating back to 1976. Decades of activism have led to bans on seal products in more than three dozen countries, a massive decline in demand, and a dwindling industry. So why are we still talking about this? Instead of letting this outdated, dying industry fade into the past, the Canadian government is actively trying to revive it. Now is the time to demand that it ends this cruel slaughter once and for all—not expand it.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of harp and grey seals are killed, with more than a million slaughtered in the past five years alone. The majority are pups under three months old, robbed of their chance to grow up and survive in a rapidly changing environment.

The hunt is primarily driven by demand for seal fur, yet the world has largely moved on, leaving Canada's government scrambling to prop up an industry that has no future. In a disturbing turn of events, officials are now attempting to market seal meat as a delicacy and have expanded personal use licenses in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to increase the number of seals being killed. A federal report has even called for revitalizing the seal-killing industry despite overwhelming opposition from the global community.

Seals are already struggling to survive as the climate crisis melts the sea ice they depend on for breeding and raising their young. This year, the Gulf of St. Lawrence is facing yet another record-low-ice season, further jeopardizing newborns before they even reach the water. Instead of acknowledging these threats and protecting seal populations, Canada is doubling down on their slaughter.

Canada has so much to be proud of—this isn't it. The seal hunt is an embarrassing relic of the past, and it's time to end it for good. Tell the Canadian government to stop wasting resources on this dying industry and put an end to the commercial seal hunt once and for all.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: End Commercial Seal Hunting & Protect Seals from Climate Impacts

The commercial seal hunt has been shrinking for years, with global bans on seal products, plummeting demand, and fewer participants. Instead of letting it fade away, the Canadian government is actively trying to revive it. Now is the time to finally end this unnecessary slaughter—not expand it.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of harp and grey seals are killed, with over a million slaughtered in the past five years alone. The vast majority are pups under three months old, denied the chance to grow up in an already rapidly changing environment. Despite international bans on seal products in more than three dozen countries and a sharp decline in demand, the Canadian government continues to waste resources trying to keep this dying industry alive.

Instead of letting the hunt fade into history where it belongs, officials are now pushing to market seal meat as a delicacy, expanding personal use licenses in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and even exploring ways to revitalize the industry. This is a desperate attempt to justify an outdated practice that the global community has overwhelmingly rejected.

Meanwhile, seals face greater challenges than ever due to the human-caused climate crisis. The ice they rely on for birthing and nursing their young is disappearing, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence is experiencing yet another record-low-ice year. These animals need protection, not an increased effort to kill them.

There are so many aspects of Canadian culture to be proud of—this is not one of them. I urge you to end the commercial seal hunt once and for all and help transition off-season fishermen into sustainable and humane alternatives. Canada should not continue to tarnish its reputation by propping up this outdated and unnecessary slaughter.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.