Seal culling in Namibia is a contentious issue, with animal rights groups opposing the practice as brutal, but the government supporting it and claiming the brown fur seal population may damage the fishing industry which is strategic to the Namibian economy.
Along with Canada and Greenland, Namibia is one of the last places where seals are hunted for commercial purposes.
The country has set an annual hunt quota of 80,000 Cape fur seal pups and 6,000 bulls.
[5] Namibia is the only country in the Southern hemisphere where seal harvesting is still practiced, and has attracted criticism from animal rights groups.
[citation needed] Rules and regulations governing seal harvesting are not adhered to and currently the office of the Ombudsman in Namibia is carrying out investigations to that effect.