For decades, veterinary reports have consistently revealed high levels of animal suffering in commercial seal slaughters. Recently, international animal protection NGOs gathered in Beijing to call attention to the problem in Canada. They believe China can play a positive role in helping save the seals.

The Humane Society International, along with other international animal protection NGOs, stands at the forefront of a worldwide campaign against commercial seal hunts. They claim that, each year, hundreds of thousands of seal pups are brutally clubbed and shot to death for their fur.

Aldworth believes that the best way to protect the seals is to prohibit trade in their products.

Movie stars are among the consumers of fur. But in China, young movie stars are among those working to stop the deadly trade. They are calling on people refuse to wear any seal skin.

Yu Xiaotong, Actor, said, "If people do not buy the seal products, there will be no market. And this could prevent seal slaughters."

Ma Xiaocan, Actress, said, "I myself will not wear seal skin, and also I will urge my friends not to buy seal products. It’s so cruel to hurt these lovely animals."

In 2009, the European Union banned trade in products of commercial seal hunts, joining the United States, Mexico and Croatia . With the loss of the European market, Canada is looking to East Asia for a new market, especially to China. But the Humane Society is calling on Chinese consumers and businesses not to buy or sell seal products, and the government to consider a prohibition on seal product trade.

Experts have suggested for years that commercial seal hunting operations are inherently inhumane—because of the inability of sealers to apply humane killing techniques, the inability of authorities to monitor the killing and enforce regulations, and the speed at which the killing must be conducted. More measures are needed to protect have to these sea creatures.

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