Canada’s seal hunt still fighting public perception as WTO considers European Union ban

Canada's seal hunt has been fighting and losing the battle of public perception for years, and it seems to have bled into international politics. At least, that’s the case from where Canada's northern economic development minister is standing.

Leona Aglukkaq, the federal minister for the environment and head of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, led a delegation to Geneva, Switzerland this week to appeal a ruling that approved the European Union's decision to ban Canadian seal products on humanitarian grounds.

The World Trade Organization – the court of last chances on such matters – agreed in a recent ruling that while the European Union's decision to ban seal products from Canada and Norway undermined fair trade, the restriction was justifiable based on "public moral concerns."

In short, it was OK to ban Canadian seal products, regardless of whether the hunt is humane, because public perception in Europe is that it is not humane.

The matter is now being considered by the World Trade Organization's appellate board and, during her opening comments, Aglukkaq derided the stance as "blatant hypocracy."

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"Trade needs to be governed by facts and evidence, not falsehoods and arbitrary assertions," Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq said, according to a public release.

"Let me start by emphasizing that seals have been harvested around the world for thousands of years for a variety of purposes, including subsistence, commerce, and the protection of fisheries. This is especially true for Canada, where sealing has played an integral role in the development and sustainability of Canada’s eastern and northern coastal communities. The seal hunt has been at the very heart of the economic well-being of these communities, both before and after the first European seal hunters came to our shores. Not only does it provide a livelihood for our families, but the seal hunt enables our communities to maintain their traditions and way of life.

"As we clearly indicated to the Panel, the seal hunt in Canada is humane, sustainable and well-regulated."

Aglukkaq goes on to say that the European Union unilaterally determined some seal products from other markets are more acceptable than Canada's offering unfairly allows those products into the market while blocking Canada's own.

"In other words, the EU Seal Regime does nothing to actually keep seal products out of the EU market or away from the EU public. It simply replaces seal products that used to come from Canada and Norway with seal products that come from places like Greenland and the European Union. And, these products are derived from hunts that result in poor animal welfare outcomes for a high percentage of seals."

For years, Canada has faced high-profile opposition to its seal hunt, with international animal rights groups combining with celebrities such as Paul McCartney and Pamela Anderson. The former Baywatch star chased headlines last year by appearing at a Canadian Sealers Association office in Newfoundland in an attempt to offer a $1 million cheque to help end the seal hunt. The office was closed at the time.

Images of blood-soaked plains of ice and photos depicting hunters killing adorable seals with hakapiks, or traditional spiked clubs, certainly helped turn public opinion against the $55-million industry.

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The Newfoundland and Labrador government recently funneled $3.6 million in loans toward keeping the industry alive during the hard times, and gave another $60,000 last month to launch an awareness campaign.

The Seals & Sealing Network says Canadian hunters are committed to ethical hunting practices on the grounds of humanity and professionalism. It also opposes the stance of animal-rights activists that claim the hunt is inherently inhumane.

"Those who produce goods for market have every incentive to adopt the most stringent and respectful methods of hunting and production, in order to be responsible to valuable consumers and to produce the highest-quality products," the group says in an information sheet.

The problem is, this argument has been presented and failed before. Canada opposed the EU when it introduced its ban, it brought the same issues up when the WTO first considered the issue. It is unlikely that, this time, the international community will decide Canada's hunt passes muster.

Perhaps there is good news, however. Should Aglukkaq be correct in saying seal products currently entering Europe via hunts in places such as Greenland are guilty of "poor animal welfare outcomes," surely the activist who so successfully targeted Canada's industry will soon have bigger fish to fry (so to speak).

With Canada and Norway blocked out of one of the largest available markets, other suppliers will grow, and with growth will come attention. Meantime, Canada's market can continue cleaning up its practices and its image.

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