I know it’s not even 10 a.m yet, but break out the champagne — we’ve got some celebrating to do! 

In a historic vote, the European Union has closed its borders to products of cruel commercial seal slaughters, removing a primary market for Canada’s globally condemned sealing industry.

Ecorazzi has been vigilant in voicing our condemnation of the brutal Canadian seal hunt which takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of baby seals each year, and we’re so thankful to all the fantastic organizations and individuals who’ve worked hard to make this legislation possible. 

According to the HSUS: 

“The EU was a primary market for Canadian seal products, and the Canadian government estimates the loss of the EU market will cost Canada’s sealing industry $6.6 million (CAD) annually. Given that the landed value of the Canadian seal hunt last year was less than $7 million, the implications are enormous. With this ban, the EU joins the United States (which outlawed seal products in 1972) and Mexico and Croatia, which ended the trade in 2006. Soon there will be nowhere left to trade the products of cruel commercial seal slaughters, and seals will be worth more alive than dead.” 

While we all deserve a glass of champagne, let’s not get drunk. There’s still plenty of work to be done! The sealing industry is a sneaky trickster and thanks to generous government subsidies, the hunt isn’t quite over yet. If you haven’t already, visit the HSUS website and sign their petition to boycott Canadian seafood. 

With YOUR continued hard work we just might be able to convince the Canadian government to pass a law ending this barbaric massacre forever. Let’s get ‘er done!

photo credit: nigelbarker