For the record. I am personally against the Canadian Seal Hunt. The following post reflects my opinion only and not necessarily that of anyone else in the Canadian tourism industry. I do wonder, however, why don't I hear more voices in the industry talking about this issue. What is the industry's position on the Seal Hunt? Join the conversation.-
I find it appalling and very disappointing that Parliament unanimously approved a motion to use the Winter Games to promote seal products. Talk about cutting your nose to spite your face. The way Canadian governments have defended this practice and dying industry for so long reminds me of 6 year olds, who stubbornly cling to an old useless (and potentially dangerous) toy. What they have done with this motion is provide PETA with more ammunition to bash Canada before, during and after the Games. Besides my personal opposition to the Seal Hunt, I care about the tourism industry very much and I care about Canada's image in the world as well. I know my business has been affected (because people let me know every Spring with not very polite emails or blog comments). This "brilliant" idea from Bloc Québécois MP Raynald Blais to use the Games to promote seal products is not only not helpful to the Canadian Tourism industry, but actually harmful. Expect to see PETA activists along the route of the Olympic Torch. Expect to see YouTube videos, Tweets, Blog Posts, publicity stunts and many other PETA tactics that are not limited by political concerns as much of our tourism promotion is.
-The seal products industry is an industry in fast decline. The market for seal products around the world is sinking (and I don't personally know anyone in Canada who would buy anything containing seal products). This is a fact, whatever your position on the seal hunt may be. According to a long article about the Seal Hunt on the CBC website, the expected price for a seal pelt in 2009 is $15 per pelt. This represents a 78% drop from the price in 2006! Any first year business student would tell you, "get out of this business," the ROI is just not there. Currently, even Russia has stopped the practice, "after Prime Minister Vladimir Puttin called the hunt a bloody industry." (Globe and Mail. A6)
-According to the CBC article, the Seal Hunt constitutes only a fraction of Newfoundland and Labrador's $600 million fishery. Only about 1% of the population there derives some income from the Seal Hunt. "The governments argue that's a substantial number for rural communities, and comparable to other industries." That may be so, in percentage terms, but the writing is on the wall. With the EU ban on seal products in place, notwithstanding Canadian politicians protestations, the market for seal products is just going to decline further. The Canadian Tourism Industry is a multi-billion dollar industry which depends, in good measure, on Canada's image internationally. I don't know of any studies or surveys that quantify the loss of revenue in tourism to Canada because of the seal hunt, but I get the feeling that it's not a pittance.
-Instead of throwing temper tantrums and clinging to a dying industry, Canadian politicians and Seal Hunt advocates should calm down and work to find solutions to the problem. It's not the first time that a region has to deal with changing times, changing tastes, diminishing returns and disappearing industries. In past years, there have been ideas put forth by various people regarding how to help the sealers find other occupations. They too must see clearly that the trend is clear and they better find other sources of income. Could there be opportunities in tourism? I understand that navigating the waters off Newfoundland & Labrador in early spring might be difficult, but what about modifying icebreakers and turn them into seal observation vessels for tourists to go see the seals? What about "adotpion?" I'm just brainstorming here. But I would be willing to "adopt" baby seals every year. If the price of a pelt in 2009 is $15, I'd be happy to adopt ten seals and send $150 dollars to a former sealer who would now "symbolically" protect my adopted seals. Make it 20 seals. Something like this could get traction around the world "Adopt a Canadian baby Seal." We could go out and shoot the seals (WITH a CAMERA) in their habitat and post videos on YouTube showing our "adopted" babies. Weather permitting there could be helicopter rides to go see the seals. I am sure that better minds than mind can come up with alternatives to the seal hunt that would benefit former sealer and start new industries in the region. Besides, my personal feelings about the hunt, I agree with Margartet Wente of the Globe and Mail who writes "The truth is that the hunt is a global embarrasment and nothing short of banning it will change that."
-The eyes of the world will be on Canada for the next several months leading up to the Olympics. What do we want them to see?
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Things Change. Times Change. the Seal Hunt must End. Let me know where to send my cheque.
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Jaime Horwitz MBA
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