Public Opinion
United Kingdom – October 2005
Prepared for Respect for Animals by ORB (www.opinion.co.uk). The following findings were based upon a nationally representative telephone survey of 1,003 UK residents. Interviews were conducted between 14th and 16th October 2005.
Q1. As you may know, each year in Canada there is a seal hunt where seals are killed mainly for their fur. Based on what you may have seen, heard or read about it do you think the annual Canadian seal hunt should be allowed to continue or should it be stopped?
| Should be stopped | 79% |
| Allowed to continue | 10% |
| Don’t know if it should be allowed to continue or if it should be stopped | 2% |
| Don’t know enough about it | 8% |
Q2. Most of the seal products that result from the annual hunt in Canada are exported. Britian receives a lot of these exports, and in 2004, British trade in seal products was valued at over half a million pounds. Do you think there should be a ban on the import of seal products into Britain, or do you think they should be allowed to continue?
| Should ban imports of Canadia seal products | 73% |
| Should continue to allow imports of Canadian seal products | 17% |
| Don’t know if it should be allowed to continue or if it should be stopped | 2% |
| Don’t know enough about it | 7% |
United Kingdom – November 2002
Prepared by MORI for the International Fund for Animal Welfare. 503 UK adults were interviewed over the telephone between 11 th and 15 th November.
Q1. I would like to ask you some questions about the Canadian seal hunt, with seals being killed mainly for their skins or ‘pelts’.
Thinking about the Canadian seal hunt, how much – if at all – would you say you personally know about this?
| A great deal | 2% |
| A fair amount | 12% |
| Not very much | 34% |
| Nothing at all | 52% |
| Not sure | 0 |
Q2. And from what you know, to what extent do you support or oppose the Canadian Seal Hunt? Would you say...
| Strongly support | 4% |
| Tend to support | 4% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 10% |
| Tend to oppose | 28% |
| Strongly oppose | 49% |
| No opinion/Don’t know | 5% |
| Support | 8% |
| Oppose | 77% |
Q3. The Canadian seal hunt – with seals killed mainly for their skins or ‘pelts’ – is a source of intense debate between those who support the hunt and those who oppose it. Last year, over 300,000 seals were killed – which according to Canadian Government reports is the largest number for 35 years.
To what extent do you agree or disagree that Canada’s reputation abroad is harmed by the seal hunt?
| Strongly agree | 13% |
| Tend to agree | 36% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 11% |
| Tend to disagree | 22% |
| Strongly disagree | 8% |
| No opinion | 10% |
| Agree | 49% |
| Disagree | 30% |
Q4. To what extent do you agree or disagree that ‘I would avoid buying Canadian products specifically because of the seal hunt’?
| Strongly agree | 12% |
| Tend to agree | 22% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 16% |
| Tend to disagree | 29% |
| Strongly disagree | 15% |
| No opinion | 7% |
| Agree | 34% |
| Disagree | 44% |
Q5. To what extent do you agree or disagree that ‘I would avoid going on holiday to Canada specifically because of the seal hunt’?
| Strongly agree | 7% |
| Tend to agree | 12% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 12% |
| Tend to disagree | 34% |
| Strongly disagree | 26% |
| No opinion | 9% |
| Agree | 19% |
| Disagree | 60% |
France, Germany and the Netherlands – November 2002
The UK poll by MORI on behalf of the International Fund for Animal Welfare was also conducted in France (500 adults), Germany (500 adults) and the Netherlands (500 adults).
Q1. I would like to ask you some questions about the Canadian seal hunt, with seals being killed mainly for their skins or ‘pelts’.
Thinking about the Canadian seal hunt, how much – if at all – would you say you personally know about this?
| France | Germany | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A great deal | 2% | 6% | 3% |
| A fair amount | 10% | 25% | 21% |
| Not very much | 45% | 36% | 45% |
| Nothing at all | 43% | 33% | 26% |
| Not sure | 0 | 0 | 5% |
Q2. And from what you know, to what extent do you support or oppose the Canadian Seal Hunt? Would you say...
| France | Germany | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly support | 6% | 3% | 7% |
| Tend to support | 7% | 1% | 8% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 5% | 5% | 19% |
| Tend to oppose | 10% | 20% | 30% |
| Strongly oppose | 70% | 71% | 29% |
| No opinion/Don’t know | 3% | 0 | 7% |
| Support | 13% | 4% | 15% |
| Oppose | 80% | 91% | 59% |
Q3. The Canadian seal hunt – with seals killed mainly for their skins or ‘pelts’ – is a source of intense debate between those who support the hunt and those who oppose it. Last year, over 300,000 seals were killed – which according to Canadian Government reports is the largest number for 35 years.
To what extent do you agree or disagree that Canada’s reputation abroad is harmed by the seal hunt?
| France | Germany | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 18% | 28% | 10% |
| Tend to agree | 32% | 28% | 46% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 8% | 12% | 22% |
| Tend to disagree | 14% | 27% | 9% |
| Strongly disagree | 18% | 1% | 1% |
| No opinion | 10% | 3% | 12% |
| Agree | 50% | 56% | 56% |
| Disagree | 32% | 28% | 10% |
Q4. To what extent do you agree or disagree that ‘I would avoid buying Canadian products specifically because of the seal hunt’?
| France | Germany | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 10% | 31% | 5% |
| Tend to agree | 14% | 27% | 25% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 13% | 9% | 25% |
| Tend to disagree | 15% | 29% | 32% |
| Strongly disagree | 40% | 3% | 5% |
| No opinion | 7% | 1% | 9% |
| Agree | 24% | 58% | 30% |
| Disagree | 55% | 32% | 37% |
Q5. To what extent do you agree or disagree that ‘I would avoid going on holiday to Canada specifically because of the seal hunt’?
| France | Germany | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 4% | 25% | 5% |
| Tend to agree | 7% | 17% | 15% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 7% | 8% | 22% |
| Tend to disagree | 18% | 40% | 42% |
| Strongly disagree | 56% | 9% | 7% |
| No opinion | 7% | 1% | 9% |
| Agree | 11% | 42% | 20% |
| Disagree | 74% | 49% | 49% |
United States – November 2002
During November 2002, 1,000 midterm election voters were interviewed by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates by telephone.
US Public Opinion Regarding Seal Clubbing
Q1. Have you heard about the practice of killing seals in Canada where baby seals are clubbed, killed by a hit to the skull, or shot for their skins?
| Yes | 64% |
| No | 33% |
| Don’t know | 2% |
Q2. In general, would you say that you ___________ to this practice of killing seals?
| Strongly Favor | 5% |
| Somewhat Favor | 4% |
| Somewhat Oppose | 18% |
| Strongly Oppose | 61% |
| Favor | 9% |
| Oppose | 79% |
Q3. A recent veterinary report concluded that 42% of seal pups that were clubbed in Canada were skinned alive while fully conscious. In your opinion, is this a ___________ problem?
| Very Serious | 72% |
| Somewhat Serious | 15% |
| Not very Serious | 3% |
| Not at All Serious | 5% |
| Serious | 87% |
| Not Serious | 8% |
Q4. As you may know, the total number of Harp and Hooded seals killed during the 2002 Canadian hunting season exceeded 300,000 – the highest number since 1967. Do these number of deaths concern you...?
| A Great Deal | 48% |
| Somewhat | 29% |
| Not Very Much | 9% |
| Not at All | 9% |
| Concerned | 77% |
| Not Concerned | 18% |
Q5. How likely would you be to take a vacation to Canada if you knew that portions of your tourist money would go to support the practice of seal clubbing? Would you be ___________ to vacation to Canada given this?
| Very Likely | 10% |
| Somewhat Likely | 14% |
| Not Very Likely | 22% |
| Not at All Likely | 43% |
| Likely | 24% |
| Not Likely | 65% |
Canada – September 2005
After the 3 year quota during which nearly 1 million seals were slaughtered
IFAW Canada commissioned the polling firm Environics Research to conduct a national opinion poll on Canadian’s attitudes towards the seal hunt. 1,000 electors were interviewed between 7 th July and 18 th July 2005.
When asked specifically about Canada’s commercial seal hunt, 69% of respondents stating an opinion were opposed to the commercial hunting of seals.
78% of respondents stating an opinion felt that the clubbing of seals was, in fact, inherently cruel.
When asked about the killing of seal pups, 77% of respondents stating an opinion indicated that they would favour new regulations banning the hunting of seals less than three months of age.
Canadians overwhelmingly oppose government subsidies to the seal hunt:
Q. The Canadian government subsidizes the commercial seal hunt off Canada’s Atlantic coast. Would you say that you support or oppose the government subsidizing the commercial hunting of seals? Would that be strongly or somewhat?
| Strongly support | 7% |
| Somewhat support | 15% |
| Somewhat oppose | 28% |
| Strongly oppose | 47% |
| DK/NA | 4% |
Canada – March 2000
Prior to the 3 year 2002 to 2005 quota
The Environics Research Group interviewed 1,021 adults between 13th and 21st March 2000 on the telephone.
Canadian Attitudes Toward the Seal Hunt
Q. Would you say you are very familiar, somewhat familiar, not very familiar, or not at all familiar with the issues surrounding Canada’s seal hunt?
| Very familiar | 3% |
| Somewhat familiar | 25% |
| Not very familiar | 34% |
| Not at all familiar | 37% |
Seven in ten Canadians (71 percent) say they are either not very familiar (34 percent) or not at all familiar (37 percent) with the issues surrounding the seal hunt. One-quarter of Canadians say they are somewhat familiar (25 percent) and only three percent say they are very familiar with the issues surrounding Canada’s seal hunt.
Q. In general, would you say you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the Canadian seal hunt?
| Strongly support | 9% |
| Somewhat support | 31% |
| Somewhat oppose | 28% |
| Strongly oppose | 26% |
| Don’t know | 5% |
| Support | 40% |
| Oppose | 54% |