Sustainability and Humaneness of the Seal Hunt

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Terra Nova Omega-3 Seal Oil is created using the blubber of Atlantic Harp Seals taken from the North Atlantic ocean around the waters of Newfoundland and Labrador. One of the primary hallmarks of the seal hunt is its sustainability. Harp seals live their entire lives in a natural northern environment. Currently there is a popular of around 8 million seals in this region, and that number has grown considerably in the last 2 decades. For example, an article from 2009 states there are 5.6 million seals. That represents a 2.4 million increase in population in about a decade. Although the quota set for harvesting seals is 400,000 per year, that limit has not been attained in many years. As a result, seal populations are growing, rather than decreasing. Therefore, there is absolutely no sustainability risk.

Once a year, during a small window of time, the seal hunt takes place. There is a lot of misinformation on this topic. First of all, newborn white coats cannot be killed. Usually only full-grown adults are hunted for their pelts and oil as they yield much more product. Seals are not clubbed. They are shot with a rifle and die instantly. If an animal does not die immediately, it is mandatory that they be shot again as soon as possible to ensure they are dead. Scientists have determined that the seal hunt is done humanely.

There is much more information on these topics available from the government. Please visit https://www.gov.nl.ca/flr/fishaq/sealing/