Know Where Your Seafood

Comes From

To The Editor:

I am writing to urge you to boycott seafood imported from Canada. In spite of worldwide outrage, the Canadian government continues to allow the killing of seal pups for the sale of their pelts. Canadian fisherman have killed nearly a million seals in the last three years, most of them under 3 months of age. The Canadian government has determined that it will allow an additional 280,000 seal pups to be killed this year. These seal pelts are typically sold to the European fashion market, although the demand for them is declining rapidly. The European Union is currently considering a ban on seal products.

Seal hunting takes place during the fishermen’s off-season and accounts for as little as 12 percent of the fishermen’s annual income. The methods used to kill the seals are barbaric and not appropriate for inclusion here. A 2001 study performed by veterinarians concluded that in 42 percent of cases they examined, it was questionable if the seals were unconscious at the time of their death (Humane Society of the United States [HSUS]).

What can you do to help stop this senseless slaughter? The most effective message is one that delivers a financial impact. The US import of Canadian seafood generates a $2.4 billion annual profit. Ask your local supermarkets and restaurants where they purchase their seafood from. If it comes from Canada, ask the vendor to purchase it from another source and explain why.

Over 5,000 restaurants and grocery stores have joined the Protect Seals campaign, which the HSUS is part of. The seafood that comes from Canada can easily be imported from other locations.

You will not be alone in your request. According to the HSUS, 79 percent of Americans polled oppose the seal hunt. In 2007, Congress unanimously passed a resolution calling on Canada to end it seal hunt. High profile celebrities, such as Paul McCartney, have spoken out publicly against the hunt.

There is a wealth of information on this issue at www.hsus.org. Please educate yourself on this issue and enjoy seafood with a clear conscience.

Thank you,

Jodi Bialik

Briarwood Lane, Newtown                                              April 27, 2009