HSI Launches ProtectSeals European Boycott of Canadian Seafood

BRUSSELS -

On the heels of the European Union’s ban on the commercial trade in seal fur, Humane Society International is launching the ProtectSeals European boycott of Canadian seafood. By encouraging restaurants, chefs and consumers to boycott Canadian seafood, HSI intends to convince the Canadian fishing industry and government to stop the commercial seal slaughter.

With more than 1 million baby seals killed in the past five years alone, Canada’s commercial seal kill is the largest slaughter of marine mammals on Earth. The annual slaughter is an off-season activity conducted by commercial fishermen from Canada’s East Coast who earn, on average, just a small fraction of their annual income from killing seals.

“Expanding the boycott of Canadian seafood to Europe is a logical next step in our campaign to end Canada’s commercial seal slaughter,” said Mark Glover, director of HSI/UK. “The European Union took the historic step of banning its trade in products of commercial seal hunts. Now, by not purchasing Canadian seafood products, European citizens are showing their support for putting an end to the bloody slaughter of baby seals.”

HSI’s American partner, The Humane Society of the United States, launched the Canadian seafood boycott in 2005. To date, the ProtectSeals boycott has gained the support of more than 5,500 establishments and 650,000 individuals. With the help of European establishments, HSI hopes to increase these numbers — as the European Union is the third largest market for Canadian seafood — and bring an end to the inhumane seal slaughter.

To celebrate the launch, HSI and The HSUS will bring ‘A Sealed Fate?,’ an exhibition by Nigel Barker, world-renowned fashion photographer and judge on “America’s Next Top Model,” to locations throughout Europe. Barker’s photographs and documentary video provide an intimate look at the short lives of baby seals victimized by Canada’s annual commercial seal kill.

Launched in New York City in July 2008, ‘A Sealed Fate?’ has traveled across the United States and Canada, including a one-month exhibition in the United Nations’ lobby. On 4 October, ‘A Sealed Fate?’ will debut in Brussels at Bozar, with a private press reception, co-sponsored by GAIA, followed by a public viewing. The exhibit will then travel to Amsterdam at Bethanienklooster, with a private press reception, co-sponsored by Bont Voor Dieren on the evening of 6 October followed by a public viewing on 7 October.

For more information about the campaign to save Canadian seals, please visit protectseals.eu.

Humane Society International and its partner organizations together constitute one of the world’s largest animal protection organizations — backed by 11 million people. For nearly 20 years, HSI has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide — On the web at hsi.org.

Source: Humane Society International

Shely Bryan of Humane Society International, +44-0-7710-148957 sbryan at hsi.org; or Heather Sullivan of Humane Society of the U.S., +1-301-548-7778, hsullivan at humanesociety.org