Some prominent environmental groups that opposed the hunt in years past because of concerns over the sustainability of the Canadian harp seal population have dropped their active opposition. Greenpeace, once one of the most active groups against the hunt, now says it is satisfied that Canada is not allowing infant whitecoat seals to be killed.
But Mads Christensen, a Greenpeace seal expert, said he was concerned about this year's large hunt. "We don't have enough science, and that calls for caution," he added.
Canadian officials say they will regularly review the seal population and adjust the hunt accordingly. "If you are going to have an annual harvest you have to maintain a sustainable number," said Geoff Regan, the minister of fisheries and oceans, in an interview. "We are going to come up with these numbers on the basis of what the herd can sustain."
Seal hunting is worth about US$30 million annually to the Newfoundland economy, which has been punished by the collapse of the cod fishery. About 5,000 seal hunters and 350 plant workers who process skins rely on the industry. Hundreds more hunting jobs are created in Quebec and Nova Scotia.
"I love it that the market is back," said Jason Spence, the 32-year-old captain of Ryan's Pride, a fishing boat that set sail from Newfoundland a few weeks ago for the seal hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Arguing that hunting seals is no worse than "people taking the heads off chickens, butchering cows and butchering pigs," he added, "People are just trying to make a living."
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