In Denmark sealskins are an integral part of contemporary fashion, and wearers of sealskin coats are seen on every street corner. There are also local dress-making shops throughout Greenland that make traditional items such as sealskin boots that are still considered the best defence against the Arctic cold. In Russia, Canada and Norway too, local companies produce sealskin garments, but most of the skins from these countries are sold to fur factories abroad. When it comes to whaling, the meat is generally the most important product, but for the Inuit the skin is just as valuable. Called mattak, it is a much coveted deli-cacy.
Whale meat is lean and tasty, and is also healthy.
The polyunsaturates found in the blubber, and also to a lesser extent in the meat, mean that you can enjoy your whale meat without worrying about heart disease. Indeed, studies have shown that seal and whale oil can actually help prevent cardiovascular disease. Traditionally, only a small part of the meat from industrial sealing was kept for consumption, and the meat that was landed was salted. In both Canada and Norway, salted seal flippers are a local delicacy. This work has progressed well, and today most of the meat is kept.