The hunting of harp (Pagophilus groenladicus) and grey (Halichoerus grypus) seal are part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s cultural heritage, tradition, and livelihood. Controversies, however, exist around seal hunting and the permanence of the industry, which is infused by the perceived impact of seals to the local fishery and the growing populations of these species off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. To include coastal residents in the seal debate, a self-administered questionnaire was randomly distributed across 40 communities (38 rural and 2 urban). Overall, respondents valued seals for their ecological, intrinsic, cultural and instrumental values, expressed positive attitudes toward seals, believed seals were causing the decline of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), held low trust toward the federal agency governing the sea, did not think the hunting was cruel and supported continuity of the activity. Results from structural equation modelling showed that support for stopping the seal hunt was positively influenced by beliefs about cruelty associated to hunting, and negatively influenced by acceptability of using seals for commercial and subsistence purposes. Statistical differences were found between rural and urban respondents, yet both groups held similar views. Findings suggested that despite positive ecological and intrinsic values and attitudes, seals were perceived as an abundant species that needs to be lethally controlled. The lack of trust on the government suggested that an open dialogue is necessary for an effecting seal management.

猎取竖琴（Pagophilus groenladicus）和灰色（Halichoerus grypus）海豹是纽芬兰和拉布拉多的文化遗产，传统和生计的一部分。然而，围绕海豹狩猎和该产业的持久性存在争议，这是由于海豹对当地渔业的影响以及纽芬兰和拉布拉多沿岸这些物种的不断增长而引起的。为了让沿海居民参与海豹辩论，一项自我管理的调查问卷随机分布在40个社区（38个农村和2个城市）中。总体而言，受访者重视海豹的生态，内在，文化和工具价值，对海豹表达了积极的态度，认为海豹正在引起大西洋鳕鱼的衰落（加杜斯·莫尔瓦（Gadus morhua）对管理海洋的联邦机构持低信任度，他认为狩猎并不残酷，不支持这项活动的持续进行。结构方程模型的结果表明，停止捕猎海豹的支持受到与捕猎有关的残酷信念的积极影响，而受到出于商业目的和生存目的使用海豹的可接受性则产生负面影响。城乡受访者之间存在统计学差异，但两组持类似观点。研究结果表明，尽管生态学和内在价值和态度积极，海豹仍被认为是需要致命控制的丰富物种。对政府的不信任表明，开展有效的印章管理必须进行公开对话。