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NEW HOPE FOR THE SEALS
Sep 8, 2006

 
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. (CP) - The European Parliament issued a declaration Wednesday demanding the European Union ban importation of seal products in what animal rights activists say could spell the end of Canada's commercial seal hunt.

The written declaration, signed by 368 EU legislators, aims to shut the European market for seal hides and fur from Canada, officials said.

"Commercial seal hunting is a brutal and cruel practice, targeting seal pups only a few weeks old," said a statement issued by Green party members Carl Schlyter of Sweden and Caroline Lucas of Britain.

The declaration, which was not officially endorsed by the EU assembly, called on the EU's European Commission to draft a ban "without delay," the two legislators said.

Canada's largest market for seal pelts is Norway, which is not an EU member. Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands have or are currently implementing national bans on seal products.

More than 6,000 Atlantic Canadians were actively involved in the hunt last year.

Rebecca Aldworth, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society of the United States, said the move marks the biggest step toward wiping out the hunt since 1983. That was when the European Commission implemented a ban on importing products from harp seals up to two and a half weeks old and hooded seals up to 16 months of age.

The ban led to the collapse of Canada's sealing industry throughout the 1980s.

"This spells new hope for the seals," Aldworth said in an interview from Strasbourg, France.

"The end of Canada's commercial seal hunt is clearly in sight and I would strongly urge the Canadian government to consider at least investigating the possibility of a licence retirement plan for sealers."

This year's seal hunt was one of the most turbulent in decades. Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney made a highly publicized visit to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, calling for an end to the slaughter of young seals, and former film-star Brigitte Bardot re-emerged as a voice against the hunt.

Out on the ice, the presence of protesters was beyond toleration for some sealers who resorted to flinging seal guts at observers and, in several cases, attempting to ram the small, inflatable vessels used by protesters and news reporters.

Five animal-rights activists were accused of violating their observer permits by getting too close to a sealing vessel in the gulf, but they were never charged with any offences.

Federal officials have said they will review the rules governing the annual hunt, indicating there could be new restrictions placed on hunt observers. But they have repeatedly defended the hunt, saying it is crucial to the survival of aboriginals and provides an economic lifeline for a region desperate for jobs and growth.

Lucas and Schlyter said the proposed ban should exempt the traditional Inuit hunt and focus only on commercial hunters.

"Ending the EU market for seal products will reduce demand for seal fur and be an important step toward ending this barbaric cull," they said.


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Posted: Friday September 8, 2006, 11:22 am
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Oct
21
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I made this petition so I can send it in protest to the Prime Minister of Canada.This year they killed Over 335,000 harp seals.With the European ban proposal it is the right time to really speak up. The seals  need your signatures , please s...
Mar
6
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THE BONOBO SCHIMPS IN CONGO ARE HUNTED AND KILLED FOR THEIR MEAT. 20 YEARS AGO THERE WHERE 100 000 ANIMALS BUT TODAY THEY ARE ONLY 5000 ! ! GET MORE INFO AT THIS ADDRESS:http://www.bonobo .org/THANK YOU - JORGEN/GREENFIGHTERS
Mar
4
(0 comments  |  discussions )
  Hello everyone!As many of you allready know Canada is still killing harpseals in the most brutal way. There is no need for this hunt and more and more are against it, including Canadians. Please join me and sign this petition to end the slaught...


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