interpreted as an environmental provision, but it remains doubtful whether it referred
to the whelping seals or to hatching fish.
Leaving this aside, a slight shift towards environmental concerns occurred in the
successor of the agreement, which was concluded in 1934. Even though it was
merely marginally different to its predecessor, it nevertheless contained a prohibition
on indiscriminate hunting techniques. This meant that it was no longer permitted to
apply explosive, toxic or narcotic methods. The 1922 agreement, on the other hand,
merely referred to “authorised hunting methods” yet without further definition. Be
that as it may, both agreements lasted until the outbreak of the Second World War
and became obsolete with Finland’s loss of its Arctic Petsamo region and the eastern
parts of Karelia, established in the 1944 Moscow Armistice and ultimately enshrined
in the 1948 peace treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union.
6.4
The Second Half of the Twentieth Century
By the end of the Second World War and in the years of geopolitical and legal
reconstruction of the global order, the groundwork for future sealing agreements was
laid. This is to say that sealing was an important part of the international economic
system, yet with primary importance for local and regional populations. This is best
exemplified by the large-scale commercial seal hunts in Newfoundland, Canada,
which prior and after the Second World War provided important economic
opportunities for the British colony (which would become part of Canada in
1946).
10 As mentioned before, the main difference to the whaling industry was
that sealing was not based on global commons and thus that international sealing
efforts were carried out by a limited number of nations focusing on specific regions
and waters with the associated implications of sovereignty.
Before the Second World War and shortly after, seals were nevertheless globally
perceived as an important contributor to the economies of specific regions. Since the
discovery of seal oil as a cheap alternative to whale oil, seal oil played an important
international role, particularly for the European markets. With the advent and quick
advancement of fossil fuels, however, this importance diminished significantly and
focus shifted towards seal fur as a fashion commodity. Both seal oil as a fuel source
and seal fur for fashion markets contributed to significant declines in seal
populations in the Northern Hemisphere and was thus a primary motivator for the
emergence of the Bering Sea fur seal regime. After WWII, also other countries
started to follow suit. Particularly Norway stands out in this regard, entering into two
bilateral agreements with the Soviet Union and Canada respectively, as we will see
below.
10 Busch (1985).
6.4 The Second Half of the Twentieth Century
135
to the whelping seals or to hatching fish.
Leaving this aside, a slight shift towards environmental concerns occurred in the
successor of the agreement, which was concluded in 1934. Even though it was
merely marginally different to its predecessor, it nevertheless contained a prohibition
on indiscriminate hunting techniques. This meant that it was no longer permitted to
apply explosive, toxic or narcotic methods. The 1922 agreement, on the other hand,
merely referred to “authorised hunting methods” yet without further definition. Be
that as it may, both agreements lasted until the outbreak of the Second World War
and became obsolete with Finland’s loss of its Arctic Petsamo region and the eastern
parts of Karelia, established in the 1944 Moscow Armistice and ultimately enshrined
in the 1948 peace treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union.
6.4
The Second Half of the Twentieth Century
By the end of the Second World War and in the years of geopolitical and legal
reconstruction of the global order, the groundwork for future sealing agreements was
laid. This is to say that sealing was an important part of the international economic
system, yet with primary importance for local and regional populations. This is best
exemplified by the large-scale commercial seal hunts in Newfoundland, Canada,
which prior and after the Second World War provided important economic
opportunities for the British colony (which would become part of Canada in
1946).
10 As mentioned before, the main difference to the whaling industry was
that sealing was not based on global commons and thus that international sealing
efforts were carried out by a limited number of nations focusing on specific regions
and waters with the associated implications of sovereignty.
Before the Second World War and shortly after, seals were nevertheless globally
perceived as an important contributor to the economies of specific regions. Since the
discovery of seal oil as a cheap alternative to whale oil, seal oil played an important
international role, particularly for the European markets. With the advent and quick
advancement of fossil fuels, however, this importance diminished significantly and
focus shifted towards seal fur as a fashion commodity. Both seal oil as a fuel source
and seal fur for fashion markets contributed to significant declines in seal
populations in the Northern Hemisphere and was thus a primary motivator for the
emergence of the Bering Sea fur seal regime. After WWII, also other countries
started to follow suit. Particularly Norway stands out in this regard, entering into two
bilateral agreements with the Soviet Union and Canada respectively, as we will see
below.
10 Busch (1985).
6.4 The Second Half of the Twentieth Century
135