Are there economically-viable alternatives to killing the seals for the local communities?
Yes. There are four viable alternatives: (1) Eco-Tourism: There are presently successful tours to the ice floes for people to see the seals in the wild. These tours could be expanded and a winter tourist industry built on the foundation of seal watching. (2) A cruelty free, non-lethal sealing industry: This idea was created by Captain Paul Watson and involves the brushing of naturally-molted seal hairs from whitecoats at the stage when they lose their baby hair. The seals appear to enjoy the brushing and each seal yields about 300 grams of harp seal hair. The hairs, which are composed of hollow transparent follicles, have qualities similar to eider down. Sea Shepherd found a German fabric manufacturer eager to purchase all the seal hairs that could be obtained. This was an alternative that could provide hundreds of jobs but the Canadian government refused to issue permits for it. (3) This year Cathy Kangas, the CEO of the major cosmetic firm PRAI, offered to raise $16 million to buy th
Yes. There are four viable alternatives: (1) Eco-Tourism: There are presently successful tours to the ice floes for people to see the seals in the wild. These tours could be expanded and a winter tourist industry built on the foundation of seal watching. (2) A cruelty free, non-lethal sealing industry: This idea was created by Captain Paul Watson and involves the brushing of naturally-molted seal hairs from whitecoats at the stage when they lose their baby hair. The seals appear to enjoy the brushing and each seal yields about 300 grams of harp seal hair. The hairs, which are composed of hollow transparent follicles, have qualities similar to eider down. Sea Shepherd found a German fabric manufacturer eager to purchase all the seal hairs that could be obtained. This was an alternative that could provide hundreds of jobs but the Canadian government refused to issue permits for it. (3) This year (2006) Cathy Kangas, the CEO of the major cosmetic firm PRAI, offered to raise $16 million to
