Can anybody tell me what the big deal is with regard to the seal hunt? They aren't allowed to hunt white-pelts, most of the animals are shot (not clubbed), there are millions of seals (something like 4.8 million), and the hunt is one of the most regulated hunting activities in the country.

It's because they're cute, isn't it?

My new bumper sticker...

So this baby seal walks into a club...

"Paul Watson, who has been campaigning against the seal hunt since the 1970s,"

Yeah good work Paul. Looks like you've really gotten some results.

Just remember, don't go where the Huskies go and don't you eat that yellow snow.

There is not sport in clubbing baby seals. That's why I like to club baby snow owls. You have to climb the tree. Find the nest. Fend off the momma owl. And then...

WHACK peep WHACK peep WHACK peep

Oh boy! I love clubbing on a Friday night.

Anybody remember the photoshop contest or thread that showed a baby seal about to be clubbed by some guy, and some farkers started putting the seal in a suit of armor moving all the way up to guns and so on? Anyone??

I_C_Weener

My co-workers would like to know why I am on the floor laughing and crying.

/WHACK
/peep

I took the whole crew of my Japanese whaling vessel for a seal-clubbing trip to Canada last year on our annual outing, great fun!

This year we are staying closing to home, and we are planning to go to Seoul where a friend of me owns this dog-stew restaurant, and he has offered to give us a workshop.

So, how long until the Newfies over-harvest themselves out of another industry?

Excellent, a couple more and my car seat covers are complete.

40below: So this baby seal walks into a club...

THIS.

Also, Warranty void if seal is broken

This: So, how long until the Newfies over-harvest themselves out of another industry?

If they didn't kill off seals, then the seals would grow in numbers until they threatened other species.

Tom_Thump: Excellent, a couple more and my car seat covers are complete.

That would be spectacular, true, but a seal fur bed comforter would be Suh-Weet.

/Don't endorse it. I couldn't hunt, Bambi is too pretty.

JJ Money: "Paul Watson, who has been campaigning against the seal hunt since the 1970s,"

Yeah good work Paul. Looks like you've really gotten some results.

Yeah, he must be an NDP supporter. Decades of futility!

Bored Horde: If they didn't kill off seals, then the seals would grow in numbers until they threatened other species.

Not arguing that - but do you really trust Newfs to get it right?

Third Day Mark: /Don't endorse it. I couldn't hunt, Bambi is too pretty.

Don't be silly. Hunters don't kill Bambi. They kill Babmbi's mom.

This

Don't be silly. Hunters don't kill Bambi. They kill Babmbi's mom.

This is called "walking into a 'your mom' joke".

As for the seals, kill those f'ckers. Forget them being cute, they are basically sea vermin and their overpopulation does more environmental harm than good.

I thought that the seal hunt was just a scam to allow unemployed fishermen to collect EI by giving them 2 weeks work? Something like that? It's been a couple years since I read about it.

Save the seals, kill the whales.

/I think I have the song right

They call that guy Tater Salad

Baby Diego: As for the seals, kill those f'ckers. Forget them being cute, they are basically sea vermin and their overpopulation does more environmental harm than good.

Because there's no handy little mechanism built right into nature to curb overpopulation? You really think we could solve environmental problems remotely as well as nature? You're either kidding, or delusional. The more we interfere, the more we screw everything up.

OlafTheBent: Can anybody tell me what the big deal is with regard to the seal hunt? They aren't allowed to hunt white-pelts, most of the animals are shot (not clubbed), there are millions of seals (something like 4.8 million), and the hunt is one of the most regulated hunting activities in the country.

It's because they're cute, isn't it?

My new bumper sticker...

the only reason anyone gives a shiat is because they are fat and cute.

IrateShadow: www.roscada.com

you know what pisses me off about that poster?

Canada's shame is not the farking seal hunt, it's the treatment that our Aboriginal population has received over the length of Canada's occupation and eventual creation.

BraveNewCheneyWorld: Because there's no handy little mechanism built right into nature to curb overpopulation? You really think we could solve environmental problems remotely as well as nature? You're either kidding, or delusional. The more we interfere, the more we screw everything up.

Wrong... we've already screwed up their habitat. The seal population is robust and in absolutely no danger of extinction. There simply aren't enough Polar Bears and killer whales to keep seal population in check, so humans have to step in or let seals starve.

... or are you saying you'd prefer seals to suffer a long lingering death due to starvation, rather than a quick death from a rifle bullet?

"C'mon funky mama save those whales/ but shoot all the seals"

Approves

OlafTheBent: Wrong... we've already screwed up their habitat. The seal population is robust and in absolutely no danger of extinction. There simply aren't enough Polar Bears and killer whales to keep seal population in check, so humans have to step in or let seals starve.

... or are you saying you'd prefer seals to suffer a long lingering death due to starvation, rather than a quick death from a rifle bullet?

Active attempts to balance nature by humans, are doomed to failure, or will cause unforseen secondary problems. If you look at our track record with the environment, you should recognize that. So yes, I choose your "long lingering death due to starvation, rather than a quick death from a rifle bullet" option.

The seal hunt stopped being economically viable when the EU banned importation of the fur. The Canadian government has spent millions to artificially prop up the industry.

BraveNewCheneyWorld: So yes, I choose your "long lingering death due to starvation, rather than a quick death from a rifle bullet" option.

So "Save the planet by being even more cruel to cute animals"?

Sorry pal, but that's farked up besides being one of the more moronic things I've read on Fark (and I've been here since 2003). Also, Americans need to STFU about how we treat seals, because we treat them better than Americans treat their human prisoners.

Clean up your own yard before you start pissing over the fence.

BraveNewCheneyWorld:
Active attempts to balance nature by humans, are doomed to failure, or will cause unforseen secondary problems. If you look at our track record with the environment, you should recognize that. So yes, I choose your "long lingering death due to starvation, rather than a quick death from a rifle bullet" option.

We have been successful around here at keeping the deer population health and controlled, why not seals? The deer culling though does have the safety aspect involved, there really is little chance you may hit a seal with your car.

That guy and his ships deserve a good volley of RPGs. farking self righteous twat.

BraveNewCheneyWorld:
Active attempts to balance nature by humans, are doomed to failure, or will cause unforseen secondary problems. If you look at our track record with the environment, you should recognize that. So yes, I choose your "long lingering death due to starvation, rather than a quick death from a rifle bullet" option.

Ah, one of those that believe that humans can do no good when it comes to interacting with nature. Just a hint here; if we completely leave nature alone, we will soon be starving just like your seals.

Sybarite: The seal hunt stopped being economically viable when the EU banned importation of the fur. The Canadian government has spent millions to artificially prop up the industry.

So are you saying that it is subsidized? Do you have a source? I would like to know more about this.

HeadLever: Sybarite: The seal hunt stopped being economically viable when the EU banned importation of the fur. The Canadian government has spent millions to artificially prop up the industry.

So are you saying that it is subsidized? Do you have a source? I would like to know more about this.

Same here. Preferrably, a dry government report detailing how much is being spent, not anti-fur propaganda.

Saiga410: BraveNewCheneyWorld:
Active attempts to balance nature by humans, are doomed to failure, or will cause unforseen secondary problems. If you look at our track record with the environment, you should recognize that. So yes, I choose your "long lingering death due to starvation, rather than a quick death from a rifle bullet" option.

We have been successful around here at keeping the deer population health and controlled, why not seals? The deer culling though does have the safety aspect involved, there really is little chance you may hit a seal with your car.

THIS.

I know here in Atlantic Canada deer hunting is the only thing keeping them in check because all of the big natural predators are gone. Well managed hunts/culls are all right.

As long as the seal hunt is well regulated and good science goes into estimating the population in order to determine the year's quota everything should be fine.

Jeffrey.Rodriguez: That guy and his ships deserve a good volley of RPGs. farking self righteous twat gyner.

FTFY.

OlafTheBent: So "Save the planet by being even more cruel to cute animals"?

Sorry pal, but that's farked up besides being one of the more moronic things I've read on Fark (and I've been here since 2003). Also, Americans need to STFU about how we treat seals, because we treat them better than Americans treat their human prisoners.

Clean up your own yard before you start pissing over the fence.

Sell it to yourself any way you want. And sell your self righteous rage to someone else. You are welcome to protest any cooperation the Canadian gov't has with the US. Until then, you're part of the problem, just as much as the average American.

HeadLever: Ah, one of those that believe that humans can do no good when it comes to interacting with nature. Just a hint here; if we completely leave nature alone, we will soon be starving just like your seals.

Thanks for the "hint" about the statement I never made.

BraveNewCheneyWorld: Thanks for the "hint" about the statement I never made.

From your earlier post: "Active attempts to balance nature by humans, are doomed to failure, or will cause unforseen secondary problems."

What do you call Agriculture if not an attempt to "balance nature by humans" to our own gain? I agree that there are often unforseen secondary problems, but I do not believe that they are all doomed to failure.

BraveNewCheneyWorld

Active attempts to balance nature by humans, are doomed to failure, or will cause unforseen secondary problems. If you look at our track record with the environment, you should recognize that. So yes, I choose your "long lingering death due to starvation, rather than a quick death from a rifle bullet" option.

Uh, how do you argue with this kind of wrongheadedness? People can do no right? We fark things up just by existing: disrupting migratory routes, destroying habitats, hunting predators, hunting prey, whatever. We disrupt one level of a food chain, we see things go wrong. If overpopulation happens we should sit on our hands? If extinction is threatened, we should sit on our hands?

Right. Whatever. Get some perspective before you spout out your oversimplified 'doomed to failure' bullsh*t.

HeadLever: What do you call Agriculture if not an attempt to "balance nature by humans" to our own gain? I agree that there are often unforeseen secondary problems, but I do not believe that they are all doomed to failure.

I never said we should "completely leave nature alone". Agriculture is not an attempt to balance nature, it is strictly for our benefit, not the ecosystem. I've never heard anyone claim otherwise.

Baby Diego:
Right. Whatever. Get some perspective before you spout out your oversimplified 'doomed to failure' bullsh*t.

What's oversimplified is your "kill some of the population" solution. Drastic sudden changes in populations create ripple effects through the whole ecosystem which destabilize other species. This effect wouldn't be as pronounced if things were done more gradually. You're apparently clueless about the dangers this can cause, so stop pretending your bs "environmentalism" is the most responsible method. You're not even addressing the cause of the problem with your solution, it's far from optimal.

All else aside, them baby seals are darn tasty....

BraveNewCheneyWorld: I never said we should "completely leave nature alone".

yet you said that "Active attempts to balance nature by humans, are doomed to failure,"

So now we can "interfere" with nature only if we try NOT to balance it? That seems to be illogical.

BraveNewCheneyWorld: Agriculture is not an attempt to balance nature, it is strictly for our benefit, not the ecosystem. I've never heard anyone claim otherwise

Ariculture attempts to utilize the natural cycle of items that nature provided us for our benifit. Exactly how is this not "balancing nature", again? Just because it may not be consistent with the characteristisics of a certain ecosystem, does not mean that it is not natural nor driven by nature.

HeadLever: So now we can "interfere" with nature only if we try NOT to balance it? That seems to be illogical.

Why not reduce hunting of their natural predators/import extras from neighboring regions? Nature would balance itself, and it's a longer lasting solution. If done properly, you should only have to interfere once to restore a healthy balance.

HeadLever: Ariculture attempts to utilize the natural cycle of items that nature provided us for our benifit. Exactly how is this not "balancing nature", again? Just because it may not be consistent with the characteristisics of a certain ecosystem, does not mean that it is not natural nor driven by nature.

Predators and prey in an ecosystem form a balance. How is the destruction of diversity, and the export of nutrients from an area to feed a society that has an ever increasing population "balance"?

BraveNewCheneyWorld

This effect wouldn't be as pronounced if things were done more gradually.

How, pray tell, do you do these things 'gradually' when population spikes occur naturally due to seasonal mating cycles? Are you aware that this cull is timed specifically to address that?

So, how long until the Newfies over-harvest themselves out of another industry?

Actually, it was the Spanish that were doing the over-fishing...

But whatevs. I was wondering when we'd see Paul McCartney and Heather Mills arguing against Premier Danny Williams on CNN again.

Oh. Wait...

Speaking of environmental issues that are a sure-fire flamewar, I am suprised that today's news of the delisting of wolves in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming is nowhere to be found here on Fark.

Baby Diego: How, pray tell, do you do these things 'gradually' when population spikes occur naturally due to seasonal mating cycles? Are you aware that this cull is timed specifically to address that?

Scroll up. That's one method, there are other methods as well, some techniques actually benefit later generations. The random killing method lacks the possibility of any genetic benefit. Other solutions can weed out the genetically weak, and make future generations stronger. The more natural methods of population control are less expensive, less labor intensive, more permanent, and provide a healthier population of animals.