Historically, a seal was used for everything from clothing to shelter to food to fuel. Today, the end products have changed, but the philosophy is the same—all parts of the seal are prized, purchased, and used by a wide variety of industries.
Seal leather and fur—rugged, waterproof, and beautiful—is still used in traditional craft and clothing. But it is also finding new life among modern artisans, textile industries, and fashion designers. Seal leather accessories and seal fur boots are no longer oddities on runways or downtown urban streets, no more than they are in small coastal communities.
Likewise, seal meat is still relied upon for subsistence and trade in sealing communities, but it is also showing up on fine restaurant menus from Vancouver to St. John’s. And seal oil, once used in the tanning of seal leather and as an ingredient in soap, is now most appreciated for the amazing health benefits of its Omega-3 fatty acids.
Learn More About Seal Products
“It’s one of the most sustainable seafoods in the country. It’s unique. It’s different … [Seal] certainly comes with its controversy, but I think it’s an important part of Canada’s food history and Canada’s food story and I think it’s a discussion worth having.”
—Eric Pateman, executive chef and president of Edible Canada, Vancouver