WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States proudly celebrates the participation of several of the nation's most well-respected seafood distributors in our campaign to end Canada's commercial seal hunt by boycotting some kinds of seafood imports. These distributors supply some of the seafood used by major U.S. chains, including BJ's Wholesale Club, Shaw's Supermarkets, Sam's Club and Target.
Companies that participate in the ProtectSeals boycott pledge one of three things. Until the hunt ends for good, they will not purchase Canadian snow crab, all seafood from Canada's sealing provinces, or all Canadian seafood.
"If the seafood industry is to survive, we need to do a better job respecting oceans and ocean creatures. The sort of cruelty that is perpetrated off the East coast of Canada in the annual seal pup slaughter is not acceptable," said Henry Lovejoy, owner of EcoFish.
EcoFish is a sustainability pioneer, winning the Seafood Champion award from the Seafood Choices Alliance in 2006, and earning the Corporate Special Recognition Award from the Ecological Society of America in 2007.
Ecofish is not alone in its dedication to sustainable seafood and to seeing the commercial seal hunt end. Collectively, the seafood companies that have joined the ProtectSeals boycott campaign sell seafood to thousands of restaurants and grocery stores. As the front end of the US seafood supply chain, their participation in the ProtectSeals campaign is especially welcome. As suppliers, their decision to stop selling Canadian seafood ripples through the United States.
"The cruelty involved in Canada's commercial seal hunt is unacceptable," said Jim Chambers of Prime Seafood, one of the top seafood suppliers to restaurants in the Washington, D.C. metro area. "I'm a bit surprised that Canada's sustainable seafood advocates haven't come out against the commercial seal hunt yet. I hope they do. They have the power to help bring the hunt to an end."
Seal hunting is an off-season activity conducted by commercial fishermen from Canada's East Coast. By boycotting Canadian seafood, the HSUS hopes to convince the fishing industry to end the seal hunt by requesting a sealing license buyout plan for the fishermen who participate in the seal hunt, replicating the model Canada established when it banned commercial whaling.
Many of the seafood companies that have joined the ProtectSeals campaign are on the vanguard of the sustainable seafood movement, and each has shifted some -- or all -- of their seafood purchasing away from Canada until the seal hunt ends permanently. They recognize that the carnage, cruelty, and waste associated with Canada's commercial seal hunt is inconsistent with responsible marine stewardship.
"We're focusing our boycott effort on seafood from the hunting provinces in Eastern Canada, including snow crabs," said Bob Sullivan, president of The Plitt Company. "The vast majority of snow crab from Canada comes from the sealing provinces. It's an important fishery to the men who participate in the commercial seal hunt."
According to trade data from the Government of Canada, Canadian exports of snow crabs to the United States have dropped by over 400 million dollars since the boycott began. The HSUS does not claim that the ProtectSeals boycott is the sole cause for the drop, but it is the most easily remedied of the major causes. Once the commercial seal hunt ends, the boycott will end for good.
The following seafood companies have joined the campaign:
Monterey Fish Market
EcoFish
The Plitt Company
Shucks Maine Lobster
Prime Seafood
Miami Crab Corporation
Cod and Capers Seafood Corporation
Down East Seafood
Mrs. Seafood, Inc.
Fish King Seafood Company
Reel Fresh Fish Company
Happy Catch, Inc.
The Crustacean Company
Big Blue Fisheries
Palomino Foods
Other ProtectSeals campaign participants include Ted Turner's Ted's Montana Grill, Legal Sea Foods, Whole Foods Markets, Oceanaire, Trader Joe's, and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafes. A list of all companies supporting the Protect Seals boycott is available at www.humanesociety.org/restaurantsforseals.
For more information on the campaign to save Canadian seals and to sign the boycott pledge, please visit www.humanesociety.org/protectseals.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.
