Shame on Costco:

In 2005 Costco was the 28th most profitable American corporation according to the fortune 500. Profits were well over 1 billion.

You would expect a company of this size to be able to survive without selling seal oil capsules. Unfortunately the management at Costco has decided selling seal products and ruining their good image is more important than losing a tiny profit margin.

The capsules are illegal in the USA, yet Costco is selling these in Atlantic Canada, which is home of the seal slaughter.

March 1st, 2006 assistant Vice President of Costco Richard E Duffy sent a letter to Stephen Thompson promising that Costco would no longer carry seal oil capsules. Stephen Thompson a representative of the Sea Shepherd society was involved with bringing this matter to the attention of Costco management.

On April 5th, 2006, the promise to remove these capsules was withheld. Costco has decided that they will continue to sell these capsules.

Due to this we are calling for an International Boycott of Costco. Costco has in the past also refused to halt the sale of Canadian sea food and to join the Canadian sea food boycott. Management has clearly indicated where they stand on this issue.

Canadiansealhunt.com calls for corporate responsibility.  Costco needs to recognize that they are involved in a trade that is both irresponsible and ILLEGAL.  The United States has banned Canadian seal products since 1972. Any commercial trade in seal products is banned by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The reason behind the Marine Protection Act?

In the early 1970's more than 600,000 dolphins were killed by tuna fishing operations. As a result, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was enacted in 1972 to protect all species of whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, polar bears, walrus, manatees, and sea otters from the negative effects of human activities. The MMPA is jointly administered by the NMFS and the USFWS. Both agencies cooperate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Animal and Plant Inspection Service when issuing permits to maintain marine mammals in captivity.. 

Furthermore, The MMPA prohibits, with certain exceptions, the take of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas, and the importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products into the U.S.

Costco being an American corporation traded on the New York stock exchange should be obeying the Marine Protection Act.

To contact Costco please use the following contact information:

Richard E. Duffy R.Ph.
Assistant Vice President
EASTERN DIVISION AND CANADA
Costco Wholesale
45940 Horseshoe Drive
Sterling, VA 20166
Voice: (703)406-6924
Fax: (703)406-6857 

Richard Galanti
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (425) 313-8203
Fax: (425) 313-6593

Bob Nelson
Vice President, Financial Planning & Investor Relations
Phone: (425) 313-8255
Fax: (425) 313-6430

Jeff Elliott
Director, Financial Planning & Investor Relations
Phone: (425) 313-8264