Welfare of Marine Mammals Flashcards
Where do harp seals live?
N atlantic and arctic oceans
closely associated with packed ice
spring migrations -> NORTH summer feeding grounds
How many pups are born each year?
Single - Feb/March 10kg
Weaned ~12 days - richest milk ever!
Mating occurs then
~6 weeks spent alone on ice maturing from blubber
How long do hard seals live?
30 years
What weapons can be used to kill a seal?
> Marine mammal regulations
- round club
- hakapik
- rifle
- shotgun
What checks should be performed before dragging seal to boat?
Skull broken, cut and bleed, then “gaff” (hook) back to boat
- usually not, in a rush!
When does the hunt begin?
Specific day when pups go white-> grey
“opening day”
al licensed vessels can go and hunt as much as they like until regional quota is reached
~145000 seals killed in 2 days
Have police ever prosecuted anyone in the candaian hunt?
No
What events were noted on the timeline in Buterworth and Soulsburys study?
Shot Hit by legal implement Hit by illegal implement Gaffed Responded to stimulus Check to see if dead Skinned /cut with knife
How did the majority of seals get killed? Were they checked?
Clubbed - 37% shot (of these 80% shot once, but not killed immediately, 70% needed to be clubbed swell; 50 seconds between shooting and contact by hunter)
Of clubbed 39% required second blow ~20 seconds post
33% checked to see if dead (still only superficially!)
What did expert opinion analysis show?
Time = prime welfare variable
Gaffing or cutting/skinning before insensible also ^ welfare score
What is conjoint analysis?
an attribute free technique that infers the importance of attributes used by an observer in decision making without asking the respondents to rate attributes directly - Hair 1998
What was found on postmortem?
- Heamorrhage antemortem due to impact
- brains intact, skulls intact - should be shattered!
- blood in stomach from swallowing head blood
Why are seal product legislations interesting?
First product banned purely on welfare grounds by world trade organisation
What was found re: whaling?
Majority of harpoon impacts on back musculature not hitting brain or vital organs
2006 records submitted to IWC - Fin whales taken by greenland took 26 minutes to die, longest death 120mins
How are dolphins killed?
Spinal cord severed and plugged with peg.
