Thank you for your correspondence regarding the Atlantic Canada seal hunt. We hope that the following will serve to address your concerns.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) makes every effort to ensure that seals are hunted as quickly, effectively, and humanely as possible. Enforcement of the regulations is thorough and comprehensive, specifically ensuring adherence to catch requirements, licence conditions, and humane harvesting practices. Penalties are tough and could include court-imposed fines, and orders to forfeit catches, gear, boats and licences.

The harp seal population is a healthy marine resource that can easily support a responsible harvest; there is no conservation reason to end the hunt. A survey conducted in 2004 estimated the harp seal population at 5.82 million animals; approximately three times the population of less than two million in the 1970s.

The value of the seal hunt may appear negligible to some individuals, but it is tremendously valuable to those individuals who use it as their employment during a time when economic opportunities are limited in many remote, coastal communities. Some sealers have stated that their income from sealing can represent up to 35% of their total annual income. Also, the top homeports for sealers have unemployment rates that are in excess of 30% higher than the national average. Sealing and fishing are also time-honoured traditions that allow people to provide for their families through knowledge of the marine environment and hard work.

Questa la parte migliore,tralascio kilometri e kilometri di cifre economiche perchè inutili,e poi questa la conclusione

Please be assured that your views are valued. We understand your opinions and those of other individuals who have expressed concerns about the seal hunt, and the department takes these views into account when making management decisions. We hope that this information will help you to understand the issues surrounding the seal hunt.

Che dire?

Tutto a posto eh...tranquilli,le foche vengono cacciate nella maniera più umana possibile,senza troppe sofferenze eh...perchè ci sono regole da rispettare sai,e chi non le rispetta può addirittura venire multato! Aò! Mica si scherza in Canada...

Poi,se per caso foste preoccupati per l'estinzione delle fochette..potete dormire sonni tranquilli,sono addirittura il doppio di quelle che erano negli anni 70! Allora mi pare giusto eliminarme un qualche migliaio,sai come sporcano tutte 'ste foche?

E come potete non pensare al fabbisogno economico dei cacciatori? Poveri,questo "lavoro" e l'unica fonte di guadagno che hanno,i loro bambini possono sfamarsi solo dopo che loro avranno fracassato il cranio a un cucciolo di foca,lo avranno trascinato sulla banchina ancora cosciente e gettato su una barca già stracolma di altri cuccioli agonizzanti.

E così cenare felici e contenti,come una qualsiasi allegra famigliola.