House of Representatives Passes Resolution Condemning Canadian Seal Hunt

[Annces]

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American lawmakers sent a strong signal to Canada today in the form of a resolution urging the Canadian government to end the commercial seal hunt. The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the resolution condemning the seal hunt today.

It was introduced in May by U.S. Reps. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) and Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), and had 30 cosponsors.

"Canada's commercial seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world," said Dr. John W. Grandy, Senior Vice President of The Humane Society of the United States. "Hundreds of thousands of baby seals are killed for their fur every year. We are grateful to the House of Representatives for calling on the Canadian government to stop this cruel massacre."

The resolution, H. Res. 427, notes that more than one million seals have been killed over the past three years and that in the last five years, 95 percent of the seals killed were between 12 days and 12 weeks of age, many of them too young to have eaten their first solid meal or taken their first swim. Dr. Grandy added, "Today's House Resolution, when added to the actions of Mexico, the European Parliament and numerous European countries, sends a clear message that this barbaric slaughter must end, now."

"This deeply inhumane practice is far beneath the dignity of the people of Canada," said Rep. Lantos, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. "There is no real good reason to let this needless slaughter continue, and every reason to put it to a stop. We call on the Canadian government to suspend the hunt in the waters off the east coast of Canada now and forever."

"I am committed to animal welfare because I believe humankind has an obligation to all animals," said Rep. Shays. "I oppose the cruel practice of killing hundreds of thousands of young seals, as well as the environmental impact of this practice. Some species have become our companions and some play important roles in sensitive ecosystems. It is our duty to protect and care for all of these animals."

Lantos and Shays are co-chairs of the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus.

In March, U.S. Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced a similar resolution, S. Res. 118, calling for the end of the seal hunt. That resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and currently has 10 cosponsors.

FACTS:

Canada's commercial seal hunt is the world's largest slaughter of marine mammals, with more than one million seals killed in the past three years.

Well over 95 percent of the seals killed each year are under 3 months old.

Hunters kill the seals for their skins, which are sold to the fashion industry in Europe and Asia. The bloody carcasses are left behind on the ice.

An independent panel of veterinary experts performed post mortems on seal carcasses at the hunt in 2001. In 42 percent of cases they studied, they concluded the seal did not show enough evidence of cranial injury to even guarantee unconsciousness – much less death – at the time of skinning.

The Canadian government estimates tens of thousands of seals are wounded in the course of the hunt each year, but escape beneath the water's surface. They die slowly and their bodies are not recovered.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 bars the importation of seal products into the United States.

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You can help to discourage killing of harp seals, by not eating at Red Lobster. The same fisherman who kill the seals, sell their fish and lobster to Red Lobster.