WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States announced today another outpouring of support for their boycott of Canadian seafood which is designed to put a stop to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of baby seals due to begin this week in Canada. Close to 50 more restaurants, including three from Ontario, Canada, are pledging to boycott snow crabs and other seafood products from Canada until the hunt ends for good.
"With the hunt due to begin any time, this is welcome news for the seals," said Pat Ragan, director of The HSUS Protect Seals campaign. "The Humane Society of the United States has noted that Canadian snow crab exports to the United States have dropped by over $150 million—nearly 10 times the value of the seal hunt and a 36 percent drop since the seafood boycott began. The Canadian government and the fishing industry need to decide whether maintaining a seal hunt is worth the cost to the country."
Sealing is an off-season activity conducted by commercial fishermen from Canada's East Coast. Even in Newfoundland, where more than 90 percent of the sealers live, sealing income accounts for less than 1 percent of that province's gross domestic product and only 2 percent of the landed value of Newfoundland's fishery. More than two-thirds of Canadian seafood is exported to the United States, producing $2.8 billion annually for the Canadian economy and making the industry a viable target for a boycott.
Other companies that have signed on to the boycott include Legal Sea Foods, Down East Seafood, Whole Foods Markets, Wild Oats Market, The Plitt Company, The Miami Crab Company, Palomino Foods and Monterey Fish Market. In addition, celebrity chefs such as Sandra Lee, Rocco Dispirito, and Canadian chef Jamie Kennedy have all signed the pledge.
A complete list of new signatories follows. An updated list of all companies supporting the Protect Seals boycott of Canadian seafood is available at www.RestaurantsForSeals.org. For more information on The HSUS seal campaign, please visit www.ProtectSeals.org.
The HSUS Protect Seals team is currently in Canada preparing to document this year's seal hunt.
Restaurants recently signing the boycott pledge:
CANADA
Atmosphere Café & Etc. - Ontario
Bin 23 Restaurant - Ontario
The Cornerstone - Ontario
UNITED STATES
Ardeo Restaurant - Washington, DC
Bonsai Restaurant - Arlington, VA
Brasserie Monte Carlo - MD
Catering Creations - Omaha, NE
Cesco Trattoria - Bethesda, MD
Delmonico's Lobster House - Beverly Hills and Encino, CA
El Coyote Café - LA, CA
Farallon Restaurant - SF, CA
Fiddlers Bistro - LA, CA
Gino's Restaurant - Bronxville, NY
Jackie's Restaurant - Silver Spring, MD
Jimmy's Fish and Grill - Long Beach, CA
MacCullum House Rest. & Grey Whale Bar Café - Mendocino, CA
Mama Voula's - Santa Monica, CA
Marcel Cocite - Venice, CA
Mark and Orlando's Restaurant - Washington, DC
McFoster's Natural Kind Café - Omaha, NE
Mezzaluna - Scarsdale, NY
Mi Piace Italian Restaurant and Bakery Lounge - Pasadena, CA
Mirabelle Restaurant - West Hollywood, CA
Off Vine - Hollywood, CA
Pesce Restaurant - Washington, DC
PGA Tour Grill - Rockville, MD
Puran's - LA, CA
Ray's Key West Grill - Lake Worth, FL
Rotelli - Wellington, FL
Rustico Italiano Restaurant - Lake Worth, FL
Sagebrush Cantina - Calabasas, CA
Sonora Café - LA, CA
Suriyo Thai Bistro - LA, CA
The Bottle Inn Ristorante - Hermosa Beach, CA
The Manor Hotel - Hollywood, CA
The Sisters of Bubik Coffee Café & Bagelry - Pasadena, CA
The Waterfront Restaurant - SF, CA
Thierry Ruaux - Long Beach, CA
Traxx Restaurant - LA, CA
Treehouse Sports Bar & Grille - Simi Valley, CA
Ulysses Voyage Greek Cuisine - LA, CA
Urth Caffe - West Holllywood, CA
Urth Caffe - Beverly Hills, CA
Urth Caffe - Santa Monica, CA
Urth Caffe - LA, CA
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
