A Sealed Fate?

September 14, 2009

On Friday evening, September 11, 2009, a traveling photography exhibit entitled "A Sealed Fate?" by renowned photographer Nigel Barker was displayed at a private party in Toronto coinciding with the Toronto International Film Festival. Barker is a judge on America's Next Top Model and has been a multi-time guest judge and guest photographer on Canada's Next Top Model.

The goals of the event were to celebrate Canada's east coast seal nurseries, raise awareness of the cruelty of the commercial harp seal hunt and promote ecotourism as an alternative to the annual slaughter of baby seals.

Attending the party were actress Rachelle Lefevre (Twilight; New Moon; Casino Jack; Barney's Version); actress Mena Suvari; and actress/model Paz de la Huerta (Boardwalk Empire, a new HBO series by Martin Scorsese; Amsterdam; 30 Beats; The Limits of Control; Enter the Void); with music provided by DJ Josh Madden.

	Nigel Barker took photos to help seals. © HSI

Canada’s commercial seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine mammals on Earth. Clubbed or shot to death for their fur, virtually all of the seals killed are pups less than three months old. Sealing is an off-season activity conducted by fishermen from Canada's east coast, who make, on average, less than one twentieth of their annual incomes from this activity. HSI Canada supports a government buyout of sealing licenses to put an end to the killing.

Nigel Barker first became involved in the Protect Seals campaign in 2008, when he visited the harp seal nursery off Canada’s east coast with HSI before and during the seal slaughter. Since that time, he has been untiringly taking his message of support for the seals to audiences around the world. "This exhibit is a celebration of the seals' lives, what they are, and their transformation during their short life. I want to bring a spotlight to show people what they look like, right up until they die, so people realize what we are losing," Barker said.

In response to the exhibit, author Farley Mowat called for an end to the seal slaughter, saying it was a "national disgrace."

Due to space limitations, attendance at this exhibit of "A Sealed Fate?" was by invitation only, but the public can view some of Nigel's work in the video below (shot at a similar event in New York) and take action to help save the seals here. Nigel has also offered some of his beautiful images as computer "wallpaper," downloadable here.