The Namibian Cape Fur Seal Slaughter
 In 2011, the Namibian government authorized the killing of 85,000 Cape fur seal pups and 5,000 Cape fur seal bulls.
During this massacre, the Cape fur seal pups are rounded up on Namibian beaches, clubbed and stabbed to death with their mothers watching and trying to defend them. These massacres take place over a period of about 20 weeks, starting in July or August.
The Namibian government continues to allow and promote the slaughter of Cape fur seals despite the fact that the population has been hard-hit already by three large die-offs in since 2000.
Like Canadian fishermen and other fishermen around the world, Namibian fishermen see seals as competitors and push for their slaughter. In reality, seals are an important part of a complex ecosystem.
The government of Namibia sells licenses to fur dealers who hire a small number of Namibians to massacre these defenseless animals.
Efforts to end the slaughter
For years, Harpseals.org has worked with other organizations to end the slaughter of Cape fur seals. Recently, the fight to end the slaughter was brought to the courts of Namibia. Francois Hugo of South Africa first pursued a court injunction in an attempt to prevent the slaughter in 2011; however, that request was denied. According to a legal opinion that he commissioned, the killing violates Namibia's own laws. However, the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries disagreed with this legal opinion. The Fisheries Minister was charged with producing a legal opinion to counter that which Francois Hugo obtained. You can download the complete legal opinion of Francois Hugo's lawyer here (right click and save the file).
Take action; write to the Namibian government officials here.
The license holder who holds the fate the Cape fur seals in his hands
In 2011, there were 3 license holders who were allowed to commission the killing of Cape fur seal pups; but in 2009, after the EU ban on seal product imports and the stockpiling of 20,000 unsold seal skins, the then sole license holder, Turkish-Australian buyer of Cape fur seal skins, Hatem Yavuz, offered the Francois Hugo the opportunity to buy him out over the next decade, at a price of US$14 million. Animal welfare organizations did not support this proposal, saying that the Namibian government could sell the license held by Yavuz to another company after such a buyout. Since Francois Hugo was unable to raise the needed funds, no negotiations could take place. As a result, the slaughter took place.
Reports from the Dutch organization, Bontvoordieren and the British investigative news agency, Ecostorm, say that two of their reporters, Jim Wickens and Bart Smithers, filmed sealing at or near the Cape Cross seal colony in 2009, and were assaulted by sealers and then arrested. Their equipment was also stolen. Nevertheless, they retained some footage, which is posted here.
Other video footage:
2008 footage from sealmancam
2007 footage from vegananimal
Longer 2007 footage from vegan animal
More videos from sealmancam
News on the Cape fur seal slaughter can be found here.
Take action today to end this annual massacre
 Current efforts at ending the massacre of Cape fur seal pups include a legal case that Francois Hugo is pursuing against the Namibian government for violating its own laws and constitution in allowing this massacre to take place each year. You can help by urging the SPCA of Namibia to support his lawsuit.
The SPCA, on its website, claims that it supports animal rights:
" In as much as there is ample evidence that many animal species are capable of feeling, we condemn totally the infliction of suffering upon our fellow creatures and the curtailment of their natural behavioral and other needs save where this is necessary for their individual benefit. We do not accept that a difference in species (any more than a difference in race) can justify wanton exploitation or oppression in the name of science or sport, or for use as food, for commercial profit or for other human gain."
Nevertheless, it has refused to stand up for the Cape fur seals.
Send automated emails to
the Namibian SPCA
the Namibian prime minister
the Turkish-Australian buyer of Cape fur seal skins (the only buyer of ALL Cape fur seal skins)
Background
Cape fur seals are really a species of sea lion. Two subspecies exist: the South African subspecies, found mostly off the coast of Namibia, and the Australian subspecies. The Cape fur seal pups are born between late October and early January. Most are born in December. The mother seals nurse their young for a year or more.
For 140 days, staring July 1st, the Namibian government permits the killing of about 85,000 nursing baby Cape Fur seals...on the pretext of creating employment for 120 unskilled workers living in cardboard shacks near the seal colony.
We wonder, are the leaders of Namibia unable to think of another way to provide employment for 80 people?
The South Africa Connection
 The slaughter of these seal pups on the beaches of Namibia is only one part of the equation of extermination of the species. Another part is the historic removal of the seal colonies from their offshore island breeding grounds by the South African government, leaving them to breed on small rocky islands with insufficient barriers to large Cape waves and stormy seas. When the Cape fur seal pups are born, they, like harp seal pups, cannot yet swim. The storms, with their high winds and large waves, wash seal pups off these rocks and into the sea, where they drown by the tens of thousands each year.
The South African government no longer permits sealing, but it has done nothing to restore the colonies to the islands they used to inhabit.
Francois Hugo, of Seal Alert has proposed to bring seals back to their former breeding islands by establishing small colonies with rescued seals. He believes that this is the only way to get the seals to return. The South African government is, at this point, cooperating with Francois and allowing him to put his plan into effect on part of the seals' historic range. Francois now seeks financial help in implementing this plan. Information for sending funds is below.
There is yet another way in which the South African government has the blood of Cape Fur seals on its hands. Though South African laws prohibit the killing of seals and require regulations that prohibit the transport of firearms on fishing boats (which would be used only to kill seals), the government of South Africa has yet to promulgate such laws banning firearm possession by fishermen. Hence, tens of thousands of fishermen go to sea with firearms, killing seals each day. Read reports here.
More facts on the slaughter from Seal Alert (Francois Hugo):
Visit Seal Alert SA for more information, too.
Fisheries
Since independence, Namibia has doubled fishery catch, landings and quotas, from 300 000 tons to 600 000 tons per annum. It should have reduced quotas by 50 per cent in 1990 instead. Bank of Namibia annual report, the fishing industry's contribution to the country's GDP was 5 per cent in 2005. Sealing accounts for 0,01 per cent of fishery exports.
Protection of Fish Stocks: June 2006 scientific research reveals quantative consumption of commercial fisheries cannot be determined effectively, nor confirm whether competition exists. Up to 50% of Cape fur seals diet is non-commercial fish species. Namibia's seal cull, exempts all fish-eating seals, including breeding cows. Cull is 90% based on nursing baby seals suckling mothers milk (non-fish eaters).
Government Policies
1990 South Africa stops its sealing policy on same species. Scientists state their is no biological distinction between Namibian and South African Cape fur seals - the seals are one population. Sealing Commission chaired by WWF recommends a single species management. South Africa stops, Namibia starts sealing.
Population Issues
 Number of pups alive on July 1: Excluding a mass die-off, less than 70,000 or lower. Sealing pup quota 80,000.
Natural Pup Mortality/Environmental Cull. Double the fishery catch doubles the natural seal pup mortality. Up from 25% to now 62% excluding, recorded mass die-off years from starvation 1994, 2000 and 2006 (95% of pups died and half the adult seal population). Nature already kills 62% of the seal pups before sealers start their annual 139 day seal cull.
Global warming, loss of former habitat, reduced fisheries, massive culls, all could lead to this species' extinction.
Unnatural Pup Mortality. Double the fishery capacity, doubles the entanglement, interactions, illegal shootings and drownings of foraging seals at sea. Up from 30,000 to 60,000 seal mortalities for one sector of thirteen sector Namibian fishing industry (its trawler fleets).
Seal Quota. In 1996, the seal quota was 20,500. In 2006, it was 91,000. In 2007, it was 86,000. Not a single marine predator species (fish, seabirds, sharks, whales or dolphins) has increased, neither has seals. Pup Sealing quota increased 300% over the last decade.
Seal Population. Lower in 2006 and 2007 than in 1993. Never recovered from 1994 mass die-off from starvation.
Namibian Sealing Policy. Annual. 90% baby seal pup based and 3,000 - 6,000 bull seal genital/penis "harvest".
Percentage of Population Killed. 80% of the Seal Population for 139 days (July to November) each year.
Business Interests
Largest Contributor to GDP. De Beers Diamonds (the world's largest producer of gem diamonds) has publicly voiced horror at the methods used to cull baby seals and is opposed to the cull of seals within diamond restricted area of Namibia.
Tourism. Four of the largest international incoming tourist country's to Namibia. United States, South Africa, Germany and Netherlands have all specifically banned Cape fur seal product imports.
Media Coverage
Media Banned From Cull. Previously photo-journalists arrested. Diamond Area, restricted. Cape Cross Nature Reserve patrolled by armed-guards. Staged Media day in 2000. Mnet Television production Carte Blanche produces evidence of random clubbing of all age groups of seals, secretly filmed.
International Laws
1971 USA Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits importing products from marine mammals, including seals
2009. European Union banned imports of all seal products
Cruelty Aspect
Chasing and rounding up 80% of the seal population for 139 days each year, to separate pup from nursing seal cow, is traumatic and cruel. Sealing regulations state seal pup must be clubbed with a 1-metre wooden stick (pick axe-handle) on the head and stabbed in the chest to facilitate death. Filmed images of the slaughter, show pups must be clubbed repeatedly, before and after being stabbed in the heart. Pups found breathing after being clubbed and stabbed. Pups vomit up freshly drunk white mothers milk in shock, before, during and after being clubbed and stabbed. Pups chest being cut open whilst still alive. Bulls shot for their genitals.
Sealer Clubber Qualiication. None. "Sealing Industry sustain jobs for the unemployed, poor and destitute" - (quote) Namibian Permanent Secretary Mbako (July 4, 2007). Unskilled part-time employment.
Value of Seal Product Exports
 No figure available for recent years. 2000 a total of 41,753 killed seals (pelts, oil and meat) earned (officially) Namibian $600,000. N$14 or USD $2 per seal. Although Sealers claim industry earns N$5 million.
Sealing Industry: Three-man held concession until 2007. Now a one-man concession. Namibian has imposed a 5-year moratorium on new fishing rights,.
Seals Killed Per Day
600 pups are clubbed and stabbed each day, for 139 days until quota is filled or season ends. 200 bulls seals per day are shot with rifles to reach the 6,000 bull seal quota.
Protection Status
Listed as an Endangered seal species in 1977 by the United Nations Convention In Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II. Whose survival is dependent upon sound conservation measures.
Distribution
 Only species of seal breeding on African Continent.
Range
South Africa, Namibia and Angola. Found nowhere else on earth.
Original Habitat
Former breeding Islands 98% extinct. Less than 20% of the seal population still bred in their natural original habitat - islands.
Sealing Colonies
Now all mainland based. 80% of population. Two mainland seal colonies. Wolf/Atlas Bay within the De Beers/Namibian Government Diamond Restricted Area. Operated by Namibian Venison & Marine Products with a 38,050 seal kill quota. Cape Cross, a nature reserve on the mainland, operated by two sealing concessionaires, Seal Products 32,950 seals and Cape Cross Seals 20,000 seal kill quota.
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