Products of the hunt were widely shared within communities. The hunt has changed little today. Although harpoons are now supplemented by modern technologies such as rifles and radios, skill, patience and detailed knowledge are still vital to the success of a hunt. In summer, seals are typically shot from skiffs or kayaks, while in the dark season they will be caught in open leads, at breathing holes, or by placing nets beneath the ice. In southern Greenland, sealing often takes place in conjunction with commercial fishing, whilst in North and East Greenland, and in many Canadian Eastern Arctic commumties sealing continues to be a major activity year-round.
Seal meat is a staple food in the diet.
The meat is eaten raw, boiled, dried or frozen, while the blubber, oil and organs are also widely consumed. The sale of seal skins is an important part of the economy in contemporary Greenlandic communities, providing cash for hunters to buy fuel, hunting equipment, and a variety of imported foods and other items. Both the price paid to hunters, and the production process itself have been heavily subsidised by the Home Rule Government to compensate for the harm caused by the antisealing campaigns of the 1970s and '80s, which, although not aimed at Inuit sealing, devastated international markets for all seal products. While seal products provide important nutritional and economic benefits, sealing also continues to play an important role in many aspects of Inuit culture, and is reflected in the rich vocabulary for different species, varieties and characteristics of seals. Sealing provides the context in which ancient Inuit traditions about hunting, and the ecological knowledge associated with this, are most fully expressed and transmitted down through the generations.