The Majority of Newfoundlanders Support the Seal Hunt but Show an Openness to a Buy-Out Plan

Montreal, QC - Newly-released research conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Humane Society International amongst a thousand Newfoundlanders finds that there is interest amongst roughly 1-in-2 (53%) for a government buy-out of the commercial seal hunt.

When asked to name the pressing issues for Newfoundland today, close to 1-in-3 (30%) identify healthcare, followed by unemployment (23%) and childcare (20%). An issue slightly ahead of transportation (13%) and the economy (12%) is support for the fishery sector (14%).

Over 4-in-5 (84%) Newfoundlanders believe the majority of seals are killed when they are at least 3 months of age, with more than 1-in-2 (55%) believing that the majority of seals are killed when they are at least 1 year of age.

Just under 3-in-4 Newfoundlanders (72%) support a prohibition on the killing of seals under three months of age; 38% would extend that protection to seals under one year of age. A further 8% oppose the killing of all seals, regardless of age. Only 13% favor no limitations on the age at which seals can be killed.

Among Newfoundlanders with an opinion, a majority (53%) support a sealing license buy-out in which the seal hunt would be ended, fishermen compensated for lost income, and funds invested in economic alternatives.

These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Humane Society International from January 3rd to January 16th, 2011 via telephone. For the survey, a representative, randomly selected sample of a thousand Newfoundlanders were interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 1773.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Mark Wilkins
Vice President
514.904.4360
[email protected]

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