Reading Between the Lines

Before I begin, I'd like to acknowledge that much of my discussion of the seal hunt has focused on the misconceptions contained in the information propagated by the anti-sealing party. For the record, I have nothing against those who protest for animal's rights. I think environmental damage, including threats to vulnerable species, is one of the biggest threats to our long-term survival.

The natural question to answer is: why have I dedicated numerous blog posts to disproving the arguments of a group dedicated to environmental concerns?

It is my belief that when you advocate for a cause, you become a representative of that cause. If you're trying to do something noble, your actions and motives should speak of nobility. The end does not justify the means - just because your cause is just, it does not give you licence to use deception to attain your goal. Not only do you lose credibility, but you damage the credibility of your cause.

For this reason, I want to look at the misconceptions that are currently being propagated by the Humane Society.

Humane Society of Canada:

"We need new solutions to bring an end to the largest tax payer funded slaughter of marine mammals on the planet."

From CBC:

"The DFO [Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans] flatly denies that it subsidizes the seal hunt. It also denies charges that the seal hunt is not sustainable. It says Canada's seal population is 'healthy and abundant' at about five million animals and 'triple what it was in the 1970s.'"

While the DFO did provide subsidies to the seal hunt in the past, the subsidies ceased in 2001. Prior to 2001, the subsidies were used for market and product development, including a program designed to ways to use more of the seals being hunted.

Humane Society of Canada:

"Offering no proof that they actually even enforce the law, government politicians and the sealing industry claim that no whitecoat harp seal pups are killed any longer."

CBC:

"The federal government acknowledges that it has laid more than 200 charges against sealers since 1996, but argues that shows it's serious about enforcing its regulations."

"No" is an absolute. It means that nothing is being done. Absolutely nothing. 200 charges may not necessarily be a robust response, but it is still a response. Unfortunately, the phrase "has done little to enforce the law" just doesn't have the same punch.

Humane Society:

"[S]ealers simply wait less than a day until the seal’s fur begins to moult (shown above on the right) before they club, stab or shoot the seal pup."

DFO:

"Harp seals can be legally hunted once they have moulted their white coat, which occurs at about 12-14 days of age. However, they are not usually hunted until they reach the "beater" stage of development at around 25 days old. Blueback (hooded) seals moult their coat as early as 15 to 16 months of age, at which time they can be hunted. The seals hunted are self-reliant, independent animals."

Humane Society Chairman, Michael O'Sullivan:

"Nine of out ten Canadians already support the protection and not the killing of wildlife."

DFO:

"Animal rights groups currently campaigning against the seal hunt cite a 2004 Ipsos‑Reid poll stating that the majority of Canadians are opposed to the hunt. In fact, Canadians support federal policies regarding the seal hunt. An Ipsos-Reid survey conducted in February 2005 concluded that 60% of Canadians are in favour of a responsible hunt. "

That's a pretty large gap. Note that DFO cites their research, but that the Humane Society does not.

Humane Society Chairman, Michael O'Sullivan:

“Killing seals. The numbers just don’t add up. You could not find any clear thinking businessman or woman who would invest a single dollar of private money in Canada’s seal hunt. So why should the rest of Canadians see their hard earned tax dollars going to support this failing industry?”

DFO:

"Given extremely favourable market conditions in 2004, the landed value of the harp seal hunt was $20 million, compared with an estimated landed value of $5.5 million for 2001. The value is based on the average price buyers paid to sealers. In 2004, that price was approximately $70 per pelt."

We've already established that taxpayer dollars are not paying for the hunt. Now, we have established that it's also a profitable business.

I'm going to move on to the Humane Society of America, but if you want to call shenanigans on Michael O'Sullivan, his cell phone number is (416) 876-9685. This was provided by his press release. I'm not making this up.

Humane Society of America:

"The most recent of these, conducted in August 2005 by Environics Research, shows nearly 70% of Canadians holding an opinion oppose the commercial seal hunt outright. Opposition to specific aspects of the seal hunt was even higher with some 77% of voters, stating an opinion, calling for a ban on the killing of seals under three months of age and 78% opposed to government subsidies for the hunt. Seventy-eight per cent felt that killing seals by clubbing them is inherently cruel. Only 4% of respondents stated that they would be very upset if the hunt were ended."

What does 'holding an opinion' mean? What specific aspects of the seal hunt? What were the government subsidies they were opposed to? What portion of Canadians did have an opinion? It's misleading to imply that the majority of Canadians oppose something, if you only consider the majority of Canadian holding an opinion. We don't know how many Canadians hold an opinion. Could be 500, could be 5. Try as I might, I can't find the details of the poll online. I have, however, found numerous people mis-citing the pole as being the opinions of a majority of Canadians, not just these mystical opinionated Canadians.

Humane Society of America:

"[V]eterinary reports indicate that many seals have been skinned while still conscious and able to feel pain."

DFO:

"Hunting methods were studied by the Royal Commission on Seals and Sealing in Canada and it found that the clubbing of seals, when properly performed, is at least as humane as, and often more humane than, the killing methods used in commercial slaughterhouses, which are accepted by the majority of the public. American studies carried out between 1969 and 1972 proved that the club or hakapik is an efficient tool designed to kill the animal quickly and humanely. A 2002 report published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal had results that parallel these findings."

Again, note the presence of citations.

Humane Society of America:

"The Humane Society of the United States has never portrayed the seal hunt as a hunt for whitecoats."

Of course. You can see the total absence of pictures of whitecoats here and here.

Humane Society of America:

"Even in Newfoundland, where more than 90% of sealers live, revenues from sealing account for less than 1% of the Gross Domestic Product and less than 3% of the landed value of the fishery. Even northern cod, considered by many to be commercially extinct, makes up 8% of the landed value of Newfoundland’s fishery today."

GDPphenomenallymenall large number. That's like saying trying to justify paying the President of the USA 0.01% of the GDP. C'mon, it's only 0.01%! Of course, by CIA World Factbook standards, that would make his salary $ 1,175,000,000. GDP percentage figures do not make a reasonable economic statement.

I'm not claiming that the sealing industry is without blame. They've been hucking seal guts at protestors, and at least one protestor boat has been damaged by a protestor-sealing boat collision. Nor do I claim that the DFO is operating without an agenda. However, pursuing a cause does not give the Humane Society the right to play fast and loose with the facts. If you're representing an important cause, you need to have your facts straight. They're just a bunch of sealers, trying to make a living. The Humane Society is the group laying claim to the moral high ground. Perhaps they should start acting the part.