Seal Hunts and Viagra

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Another problem for seal hunt: Viagra

KEVIN COX

 

Wednesday, February 21, 2001 - Globe and Mail

 

HALIFAX -- The rise of Viagra has led to a shrinking market for seal

penises and this has become a factor in a dramatic decline in the

East Coast seal hunt, researchers say.

 

The number of seals killed in the controversial hunt dropped to

91,000 last year from a high of about 280,000 in 1996, says a report

submitted recently to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

 

The report notes that in 1996, an estimated $1-million worth of seal

penises were exported, primarily to Southeast Asia, where the organs

are used as an aid to virility.

 

But that trade seems to have withered as the penises have been

replaced by Viagra for those with sexual dysfunctions, the study says.

But it notes that Viagra was just one reason for the hunt's troubles.

The collapse of markets for pelts and meat contributed heavily to the

drop, as did the phasing out of government subsidies, according to

the interim report by the scientific panel, which is developing a

five-year plan for seal management.

 

In 1996, with the federal and Newfoundland governments paying

subsidies of 20 cents per pound on seal meat, so many seals were

killed that animal-rights organizations warned that the seal

population could be endangered by prolonged slaughter.

 

However, by last year the subsidies had been phased out and prices

for pelts and meat had fallen, according to the report, which was

obtained by The Globe and Mail.

 

While hunters are optimistic about expanding the hunt this year, the

authors warn that if prices for pelts and meat do not rise the seal

population will resume the explosive growth rate it experienced

between 1983 and 1995. During that time, the harp seal herd grew to

about 5.2 million from about two million after the hunting of

whitecoat seal pups was halted.

 

" In the event that the panel concludes that a lower population level

for harp seals is a desirable policy objective, then new initiatives

will be necessary to promote a higher level of harvesting, " according

to the report of the panel, led by Ian McLaren of Dalhousie

University.

 

The report, which is to be followed by a more detailed document with

a five-year plan for the controversial seal hunt, debunks two widely

held East Coast beliefs: that the seal herds are increasing every

year and that they are eating large amounts of cod and impeding

recovery of the fish stocks.

 

The panel reviewed several estimates and concluded that the

population of 5.2 million harp seals has been maintained in recent

years since the Department of Fisheries and Oceans set quotas that

allowed 275,000 seals to be killed.

 

However, the panel noted that the department doesn't seem to have

clear objectives for managing the seals.

 

It also refuted an idea that has driven the demand for a seal cull in

Newfoundland: that the herds are eating the few remaining cod,

particularly around the northeastern part of the province.

 

But the report found that seals generally eat young cod and don't

attack fish of reproductive age. It also concluded that there is not

enough information about seal diets or environmental changes and cod

migration to blame the seals for depleted fish stocks.

 

Representatives of the Canadian Sealers Association were not

available for comment yesterday.

 

http://www.globeandmail.com/gam/National/20010221/USEALN.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

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