Seal hunting, particularly clubbing, is associated with commercial harvests of certain seal species in the North Atlantic. The practice often involves a specialized tool called a hakapik. The continued existence of sealing is now heavily influenced by global trade regulations and the complex geopolitical distinctions drawn between commercial and subsistence harvesting.
Historical and Economic Drivers
The tradition of seal hunting in the Arctic predates recorded history, practiced by Indigenous communities, such as the Inuit and First Nations, for at least 4,000 years. For these groups, the harvest was purely for subsistence, providing meat, oil for fuel, and skins for clothing in harsh environments. The commercial-scale sealing industry emerged much later in the 17th century, driven by expanding European and North American markets.
Early commercial ventures, centered around Newfoundland and Labrador, initially focused on rendering blubber for oil. Seal oil was a highly valued commodity, used extensively for lighting, industrial lubrication, and manufacturing soap and leather products. The demand for these resources incentivized high-volume harvesting, which became a significant economic driver for remote coastal communities.
The industry experienced a commercial boom in the 19th century, with annual catches sometimes exceeding 500,000 animals, primarily targeting harp seals. Following the decline in demand for seal oil after World War II due to the rise of petroleum and electricity, the market focus shifted almost entirely to the fur. This shift meant the most prized commodity became the soft, white coat of the newborn harp seal pups, known as “whitecoats.” The economic incentive of a high-value pelt dictated the harvest methods and the age of the seals targeted. This economic structure ensured the sealing industry remained a source of supplemental income for thousands of fishermen during the off-season.
The Rationale for the Clubbing Method
The adoption of clubbing, often involving the hakapik, arose from the unique logistical and economic demands of large-scale commercial sealing on the ice floes. The hakapik is a long, heavy wooden club fitted with a metal head that includes a hammer and a hook.
The primary reason for using a blunt force instrument is to preserve the integrity of the pelt. Unlike a bullet, a club or hakapik, when used correctly to strike the cranium, causes minimal damage to the skin, which is the most valuable part of the animal commercially. The hook end of the hakapik allows the hunter to move the heavy carcass across the ice.
Proponents argue that when properly executed, the strike causes instantaneous unconsciousness and death, making it a quick and effective method of dispatch. Official Canadian regulations mandate a three-step process for all methods, including clubbing: stunning the animal, checking to ensure the skull is crushed, and immediately bleeding the animal to guarantee death.
While the hakapik remains a permitted tool, the majority of the current commercial harvest is now conducted using high-powered rifles, particularly in major sealing areas like the Front off Newfoundland. However, clubbing is still practical for animals on the ice, especially younger seals, where the risk of ricochet from a firearm is a safety concern.
Global Trade Bans and Current Hunting Status
The widespread use of the clubbing method, particularly on young seals, spurred massive public outcry and international activism beginning in the 1960s and 1970s. Ethical concerns led to initial market restrictions, such as the European Economic Community’s 1983 ban on the import of products from whitecoat harp seal pups. Canada followed by banning the commercial hunt of whitecoats in 1987.
The most significant legislative change was the European Union’s 2009 Regulation on Trade in Seal Products, which introduced a near-total ban on the trade of commercially hunted seal products within the EU market. When challenged, the World Trade Organization upheld the ban, recognizing that public moral concerns about animal welfare could constitute a legitimate objective for trade restrictions. This ruling, along with a subsequent ban by Russia in 2011, caused a severe collapse in the commercial market for seal products.
The EU regulation includes an exception for products derived from traditional hunts conducted by Inuit and other Indigenous communities. This distinction protects subsistence hunting, which is considered a traditional cultural practice. The products must meet specific certification requirements to be eligible for the exception.
Despite the international trade bans, commercial sealing continues in several nations, including Canada, Norway, and Namibia, under strict government-regulated quotas. In Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans sets an annual Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for species like the harp seal. Although the commercial hunt has been drastically curtailed, declining by over 90% since the major international bans, it remains a heavily subsidized industry and a political flashpoint.