Harp Seal Welfare in a Changing Climate

Harp seals face a double threat: annual commercial hunts and the rapid loss of Arctic sea ice that serves as critical pupping habitat.

Key Facts

Harp seals give birth on sea ice in late winter; pups need stable ice for the first weeks of life before they can swim
Climate change has caused significant declines in sea ice extent and thickness in the Gulf of St Lawrence, a key pupping area
In years of poor ice, pup mortality can exceed 50% due to premature entry into cold water before sufficient fat reserves develop
Canada permits a commercial hunt of harp seals; the annual quota in recent years has been set at several hundred thousand animals
The EU and United States have banned imports of harp seal products, reducing commercial pressure significantly

Welfare Considerations

Harp seal pups are born helpless and dependent on sea ice platforms for survival. When ice melts early or is too thin to support them, pups drown or are crushed. The commercial hunt, when it occurs, raises serious welfare concerns about the humaneness of killing methods used at sea. Climate-driven habitat loss represents a growing welfare crisis that operates independently of the hunt, threatening hundreds of thousands of animals per year in bad ice years.

What You Can Do

Support marine conservation organisations focused on Arctic ecosystem protection
Advocate for strong climate action as a foundational animal welfare measure
Urge governments to account for climate vulnerability when setting sustainable harvest limits
Raise awareness that climate change is an animal welfare emergency affecting millions of individuals
Oppose seal product imports in countries that have not yet enacted bans