Your attitude towards trade in seal products

Animal welfare concerns, i.e. the possible pain, distress and suffering associated with the different methods of killing the individual seals, e.g. shooting, killing with striking weapons, netting or harpooning, have motivated the European Commission to undertake a detailed assessment of the potential impact of regulating the import and trade of seal products.

Key questions

Do you accept hunting in principle? (optional)

Do you see any difference, in principle, between the act of killing a wild animal like a seal and the slaughter of farm animals such as cattle or pigs? (optional)

If yes: why? (optional)

The act of killing an animal in the wild exposes it to less distress, pain and suffering
The act of killing an animal in the wild exposes it to more distress, pain and suffering
Wild animals should not be killed for human use
Do not know

If no: why? (optional)
Killing an animal in the slaughterhouse causes an equal level of distress, pain and suffering
It is acceptable to kill both, wild and farmed animals, for human use
Do not know

Is hunting seal populations (without reducing the overall seal stocks) different to other ways of making use of natural resources, such as hunting deer or catching fish? (optional)
Yes
No
Do not Know

If yes: What is the main reason why you think that seal hunting is different to other ways of making use of natural resources? (optional)
Seals are larger than most other hunted animals
Seals are innocent
Hunting seals to use for fur and other non-essential products is not justified
Seals are particularly vulnerable on land and on ice
Do not know

If no: why? (optional)
Any hunting is acceptable, as long as the species is not under threat
Humans have a right to make sustainable use of natural resources, including seals
Do not know

How much should concern over animal welfare count compared to concern over local communities that depend on seal hunting? (optional)
Animal welfare is more important than the interests of local communities
The interests of local communities are more important than animal welfare
Animal welfare is equally as important as interests of local communities
Do not know

Which are, to your knowledge, the main methods for killing seals? (Select two options maximum) (optional)
Shooting
Physical (hitting the seal's head with a striking weapon)
Netting
Harpooning
Do not know

Methods of seal killing
Please rank, by order of priority from the most appropriate (1) to the least appropriate (4), the seal killing methods which, in your view, are the most appropriate killing methods to use for reducing, as much as possible, unnecessary pain, distress and suffering, provided that these methods are correctly used:

Shooting (optional)
Physical (hitting the seal's head with a striking weapon) (optional)
Netting (optional)
Harpooning (optional)

Is the age of hunted seals a factor in your view? (optional)

It is acceptable to hunt all ages

It is only acceptable to hunt the adult seals of the specific species

Seals should not be killed
Do not know

The use of hunted seals - which is the most acceptable to you? (optional)
To hunt seals for the use of the skins
To hunt seals for the use of the meat
To hunt seals for the use of skins and meat
To hunt seals and make use of the full body, i.e. skins, meat, oil such as OMEGA 3 oil
Equally acceptable
Any use of seals by humans is unacceptable
Do not know

The hunter - what is the most acceptable to you? Tick the statement which comes closest to your opinion. (optional)
The hunter belongs to a traditional seal hunting culture/community
The hunter depends on seal hunting for his main income
The hunter hunts for sport
We should refrain from killing seals for any reason
Do not know

Regulating seal hunting

Fully agree Partly agree Partly disagree Fully disagree Do not know

Seal hunting is acceptable if it is regulated by clear laws setting requirements for seal hunting methods. (optional)

Seal hunting is acceptable if it is regulated by law, setting requirements to seal hunting methods and if independent inspectors control the seal hunts. (optional)

It is generally known that in some cases, not all seals that are thought to have been killed actually die. Some will only have been wounded and will manage to get away (called struck and lost). For seal hunting to be acceptable, which struck-and-lost ratio is acceptable? (optional)
Struck-and-lost level should be lower than 40%Struck-and-lost level should be lower than 20%Struck-and-lost level should be lower than 15%Struck-and-lost level should be lower than 10%Struck-and-lost level should be lower than 5%Struck-and-lost level should be 0%Seal hunting can never be acceptableDo not know

What would you suggest to decision-makers at the European level on possible legislative measures to regulate the placing on the market of seal products? Please select one statement only. (optional)

No supplementary measures needed
A label that informs consumers that the product contains elements derived or originating from seals, so that consumers can make the choice as to whether they wish to purchase a product which contains, for example, seal skin or seal oil
A label that informs consumers of where the seal products come from, so that consumers can make the choice of whether to purchase the product or not
Only those seal products which come from countries where seal hunting is regulated and monitored with regard to animal welfare should be admitted to the EU market
The placing on the market of seal products, wherever they come from, should be banned