In the late sixties, Brian Davies, our founder, pioneered the campaign to end the slaughter of baby seals in Canada. His work to expose the cruelty on the ice floes made headlines around the world, resulting in the Canadian government banning the killing of whitecoats in 1987. With the re introduction of the seal hunt in the nineties, Brian and Network for Animals are in the forefront of the movement to bring this atrocity to an end.

Lobbying decision makers - This Spring, the European Parliament will decide whether or not to prohibit EU trade in seal products-a historic opportunity to save millions of seals from brutal slaughter. Within the EU, the UK is one of the most influential nations. Brian and Network have met repeatedly with senior government officials in the UK, providing strong evidence in support of an EU prohibition on seal product trade. Thankfully, the UK has responded, and adopted a formal position in favour of a strong EU prohibition on seal product trade. Because of Network's efforts, UK Members of the European Parliament are working hard to obtain a strong prohibition on seal product trade throughout the EU.

Influencing UK grocery stores to boycott Canadian seafood - Sealing is an off-season activity conducted by fisherman who earn about 5% of their annual income from killing seals and the rest from other commercial fisheries.

By boycotting Canadian seafood products and getting UK supermarkets to stop stocking them, Network is playing a direct role in convincing sealers it is not in their financial interest to continue slaughtering seals. ASDA has already stopped selling Canadian seafood products and we are working to have others follow suit.

Education - Many people are shocked to discover that baby seals are still slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands annually in Canada. But with more than a quarter million seals killed annually, Canada's commercial seal hunt is now the largest slaughter of marine mammals on earth. Via our mailings, website, literature and briefings to decision makers, Network ensures that the public is informed on the seal hunt issue so that they can advocate on behalf of seals.

Letter writing campaigns - Network encourages and assists members of the public in directing letters of protest to key Canadian officials. Over the years, we have facilitated thousands of letters voicing disgust at the annual seal hunt, proving to decision makers that the majority of the British, European, American and Canadian public are opposed to such a barbaric activity.

What You Can Do