Originally Published: 2010-02-14

“If they have a buyer, I suspect he’s receiving funding from the Canadian government.”
This is Rebecca Aldworth’s assessment of the seal hunters’ claim – on the eve of the Hay Island hunt – that this will be a more profitable season than last year’s.
It seems hard to believe, in fact, after the ban approved by the European Union that shut Canada out of an important seal product market, that demand would have increased.
Nevertheless, Robert Courtney of North Smoky-Inverness South Fishermen’s Association declared last Sunday that hunters at this coming week’s Hay Island hunt have already found a buyer for all 2,200 seal killings – a number approved by the Ministry of Fisheries. Last year, before the ban had yet to be approved, just 200 pelts were sold.
Courtney expects higher prices for each pelt this year. Aldworth, director of the International Humane Society Canada, who is in Cape Breton, a short distance from the natural Hay Island reserve to monitor the hunt, is very skeptical about Courtney’s claims.
“This year the market for seal products has been restricted due to the EU ban, and there’s talk that the price of pelts will be lower. It’s true, however, that there are other markets such as Russia and Asia: One has to question how much Canada stands to make in these countries.”

The hunters claim to have found a buyer for 2,200 pelts. Could this be possible?

“That surprises us, because last year they weren’t able to find any if it wasn’t for the 200 pelts purchased as samples by a Newfoundland company (Editor’s note: New Tan Furs Inc.). As well, the hunt has been officially opened since [last] Monday and from what I know they won’t even get to Hay Island today. Why wait? That doesn’t appear to be the actions of someone who already has a buyer.”

Are they bluffing?

“Maybe that’s what they’re saying to the media. They show off their best smile and pretend everything is going well. Maybe there is a buyer, but if that’s so, I have strong suspicion he’s receiving funding from the Canadian government to buy the pelts.”

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