Uncertainty1

Uncertainty is a lack of knowledge which makes it impossible to predict either the current state or possible outcomes of a decision or action. The logical decision when faced with uncertainty is to use the [|precautionary principle], which states that if a action may cause severe or irreversible harm there is a moral responsibility to refrain from carrying out that action.

In relation to the Atlantic seal hunt it is had to measure uncertainty due lack of data. The complexity of the ecosystem in which the seals are a part of, makes any such attempt at predicting populations, and how they would be affected hard to do. It is also hard to accurately measure any effect it would have on the other species in the ecosystem. Given that population studies have yielded very different results, showing differences of millions in the projected population, makes it difficult to justify a large scale hunt. If there was a more definite way to accurately measure these populations, and the effects previous hunts have had on the population and the ecosystem as a whole, then it would seem justifiable to take a certain number of seals for the benefit on man. Uncertainty or not, the hunting of Seals really comes down to the socio-political decisions of politicians and their governments. Although scientific data is often used to justify such hunts, it is obvious that pro sealing governments would favour studies that enable them to hunt, and ignore ones that don't.