Images of men clubbing infant seals had soured world opinion and caused the United States to ban imports of seal products in 1972.

Canada increased the quotas last year, however, allowing 1 million seals to be killed over the next three years.

BBC Online reports that the hunt is conducted under tighter regulations today than 25 years ago, with most seals being shot rather than clubbed.

The government also says that seals - far from being endangered - are to blame for the depletion of cod stocks. It estimates that 5.2 million harp seals inhabit the north Atlantic.

Animal rights groups argue, however, that the government is "attempting to scapegoat seals" for their own fisheries mismanagement.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare has said that hunting regulations are ignored. "We filmed and witnessed seals being skinned alive right in front of us," Rebecca Aldworth, an activist with the group, told Reuters (BBC Online, April 12).

Copyright, National Journal Group, 2004