Seal Market

[xman]

It appears that Canada has made a deal with China to sell seal products, such as meat and oil to their market. I wonder if this will mean that US and European markets will loosen up to trade for sporrans and such because the resource is now clearly less exclusively fur centric.

http://www.firstperspective.ca/relea...otiations.html

[jhockin]

wonder why they still prefer clubbing, rather than shooting?

[xman]

'Parently clubbing is the quickest, most human end for them although shooting is also done.

[artificer]

I'd be nice to get some seal down our way. It's silly that Inuit are allowed to hunt seal and sell the pelts (in Alaska) but we in other parts of the US aren't allowed to buy a product that's ALREADY IN THE COUNTRY.

[Downunder Kilt]

I'd be nice to get some seal down our way. It's silly that Inuit are allowed to hunt seal and sell the pelts (in Alaska) but we in other parts of the US aren't allowed to buy a product that's ALREADY IN THE COUNTRY.

Is there not some kind of law/convention in relation to free trade between the states of the USA. I know in Australia that if the goverment tried to stop free trade between our states that the constitutional lawyers would be beating a path to our High Court to challenge the situation.

[artificer]

Is there not some kind of law/convention in relation to free trade between the states of the USA. I know in Australia that if the goverment tried to stop free trade between our states that the constitutional lawyers would be beating a path to our High Court to challenge the situation.

Unfortunately, as I understand it, it has nothing to do with free trade so much as a "Protected Marine Mammals Act" which prevents the sale of seal skin in the US. The Inuit are exempted as an indigenous people (as it's part of their traditional culture and food sources).

The odd 'grey area' exists in that they are allowed to sell the pelts. Americans aren't allowed to buy the fur based on the previously mentioned Act. So the Inuit can sell to Canadians, Europeans, (presumably Australians), and just about anyone else EXCEPT for fellow Americans in the lower 48.

I've heard that fellow Alaskans (or tourists visiting) can purchase the furs though...

All in all, I consider it just another classic work of American law (ie big, stupid loopholes in an otherwise strict code).

[Downunder Kilt]

Scott, I just had a quick squiz at one of your goverment sites and found the following paragraph in a fact sheet:

The moratorium generally does not apply to Alaska natives who live on the Alaskan coast.

The MMPA contains provisions allowing for take for subsistence use or to create and sell “authentic articles of handicrafts and clothing” without permits or authorizations.

The taking must not be“accomplished in a wasteful manner,” and the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior may regulate the taking of a depleted species or stock, regardless of the purpose for which it is taken.

The second pargraph is interesting

Perhaps one of the “authentic articles of handicrafts and clothing” would consist of seal pelt(s)

[artificer]

Scott, I just had a quick squiz at one of your goverment sites and found the following paragraph in a fact sheet:

The moratorium generally does not apply to Alaska natives who live on the Alaskan coast.

The MMPA contains provisions allowing for take for subsistence use or to create and sell “authentic articles of handicrafts and clothing” without permits or authorizations.

The taking must not be“accomplished in a wasteful manner,” and the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior may regulate the taking of a depleted species or stock, regardless of the purpose for which it is taken.

The second pargraph is interesting

Perhaps one of the “authentic articles of handicrafts and clothing” would consist of seal pelt(s)

So far (and I've contacted several Alaskan vendors) that doesn't extend to full pelts posted to the US. It's mostly mittens and such.

It's a great source of personal frustration.

[Dale Seago]

If one could get, say, a Inuit sealskin coat it could later be "disassembled" and turned into quite a few sporrans. Not that I'd advocate such a thing, of course. Just sayin'. . .

[Alan H]

Is it THAT important to you to have a real sealskin sporran? I'm totally serious, here. I'm asking an honest question, because I don't quite understand it.

Are sporrans from cow leather, rabbit pelts and the like not good enough? Maybe it's a tradition-based thing?