We at SeaDNA get all kinds of questions about the seal industry. It remains, even today, one of the most needlessly controversial industries on earth.
The simple fact is: the seal hunt is no different than any other wild game harvest. The Canadian government sets an annual quota, monitors and regulates the hunt, and ensures that any part of the animal used for human or animal consumption is tested and safe. No company can operate outside of these parameters.
SeaDNA takes pride in ensuring best practices throughout our production chain; from our local hunters making the catch, to our meat and oil facilities bringing finished products into your pet’s bowl.
The Canadian seal industry has evolved and now the discussion surrounding it replaces propaganda and stigma.
-> Listed below are facts about the industry <-
THE NUMBERS
- The current estimated Harp Seal population in the Northwest Atlantic: 7.4 million and growing.
- The current estimated Grey Seal population in the Northwest Atlantic: 505, 000 and growing.
- The Canadian seal herd is at its largest point in 30 years and is a SPECIES OF LEAST CONCERN by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- Annual Canadian quota: Harp seals: 400,000 / Grey seal: 60,000.
- Actual Canadian catch: 35,000 harp seals and 1,145 grey seal in 2015 / 66,800 harp seals and 1,612 grey seal in 2016.
In 2016, less than 15% of the seal quota was harvested.
MONITORED AND ETHICAL HARVEST
- The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) strictly monitors the annual harvest quota for Canadian seal herds.
- DFO Enforcement tools include: aerial surveillance, satellite tracking of vessels, at-sea patrols and inspections, dock inspections.
- It has been ILLEGAL for seal pups to be harvested in Canada since 1987.
- The responsible harvest of the growing seal herd is recognized as being important in maintaining eco-diversity. It’s estimated that each adult seal will eat 1.5 – 2.0 tonnes of fish and seafood in a single year.
It’s estimated that each adult seal will eat 1.5 – 2.0 tonnes of fish and seafood in a single year.
SMARTER SEAFOOD
Contrary to popular belief, Harp seal and Grey seal in Eastern Canada represent an abundant and renewable marine resource certified by Smarter Seafood, a Program developed by Exploramer. The Smarter Seafood program encourages restaurants and fishermen to use little-known species of the St. Lawrence from a sustainable consumption perspective and protection of biodiversity.
HEALTHY AND SAFE
- All processing and refining facilities used by SeaDNA are certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health Canada or The Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ).
- All lots of SeaDNA oil are tested by an external laboratory for purity.
- Meat and oil is well below the most stringent industry requirements for heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic and the World Health Organization’s limits for PCBs, dioxins and furans.
Hi, you guys might be interested in this “you Tube” 6 1/2 minute video outlining the reality of the Canadian seal hunt and the attacks on it by the multi million dollar American headquartered Animal Rights Corporations. To access it simply google the title or go into the you Tube search bar and in either case type in the title of the Video: Canadian sealing: a labyrinth of lies …. and it should pop up. If you find it helpful you could suggest it to all those who access you site as a counter measure to the Animal rights corporation’s propaganda campaigns.
Thank you Jim! We will share it! 🙂