Norway, Canada, and Japan have deemed the cruel practice of commercial whale and seal hunting as an “essential” activity during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. While most of the world is trying it’s hardest to contain the spread of COIVD-19 with nationwide lockdowns, hunters are allowed to take to the seas and kill animals.

In Norway, the Ministry of Fisheries announced that this year’s harp seal hunt could proceed as usual – regardless of the country’s strict self-isolation requirements since March 12th – with a quota to kill 18,548 seals. Whaling has also been given the green light in the country with a quota of 1,280 minke whales.

The only difference this year (contrary to usual practice) is that no animal welfare inspectors are allowed onboard hunting vessels in efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. This is terrible news for the animals since the industry has dealt with several animal cruelty convictions in the past.

As Humane Society International (HSI) told One Green Planet:

As well as the hunt breaching social distancing recommendations, the absence of an inspector raises additional animal welfare concerns for a hunt that has seen several animal cruelty convictions in the past.

Animal-rights groups, Norwegian group NOAH and Humane Society International (HSI), have written to the Norwegian government in protest about this and that hunting is being permitted at all during a global pandemic.

Meanwhile, in Canada, the commercial seal hunt has been allowed to continue as well despite most of the country being under quarantine. The situation here is even direr as harp seals are already at risk due to climate change melting the sea ice habitat they rely on for breeding.

Japan is also scheduled to continue hunting, but on that side of the world, the animals in danger are whales.

HSI says:

On March 27, the whaling vessel Yushin-Maru returned to Shimonoseki City after a month at sea with a haul of 20 Bryde’s whales, in the country’s first openly commercial whale hunts since the 1980s.

Claire Bass, executive director of Humane Society International in the UK, said:

It’s disturbing to think that while all over the world people are making extraordinary sacrifices to stop the spread of COVID-19, whalers and sealers are carrying on with their bloody business as usual, risking infection spread amongst crews and their families. We urge the Norwegian, Canadian and Japanese governments to call an immediate stop to these cruel and unnecessary hunts.

If you’d like to speak up against commercial whaling and seal hunting, sign this petition.