Claim: Canada's commercial seal hunt, which started in 1723, is the world's largest hunt for marine mammals and has been objected to by animal rights groups; in 2008 the Canadian government set a limit for allowable catch amounts as 275,000 harp seals, 8200 hooded seals, and 12,000 grey seals.
Evidence: 1723 Canada's seal hunt is the world's largest hunt for marine mammals. Some animal rights groups were given observer permits and monitored the hunt. They said it was cruel and that it ravaged the seal population. The total allowable catch for 2008 was set by the Canadian government at 275,000 harp seals (the quota includes 2,000 seals for personal seal hunting, and 4,950 seals for the Aboriginal seal hunt), 8,200 hooded seals, and 12,000 grey seals.