news2006 Archivi - OIPA

THE HSUS CONDEMNS CANADIAN GOVERNMENT’S ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK OBSERVATION OF COMMERCIAL SEAL HUNT

oipainternational — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 10:07:49 +0000

WASHINGTON — The Humane Society of the United States today condemned the recent announcement by Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans of its intention to place more restrictions on legal and peaceful observation of the commercial seal hunt in 2007. The HSUS believes the move is an attempt to conceal the cruelty of the seal hunt in the wake of closing global markets for seal products.
“The DFO knows, as we do, that the recent images of the commercial seal hunt have convinced foreign governments to ban their trade in seal products,” said Rebecca Aldworth, hunt observer and director of Canadian wildlife issues for The HSUS. “It is no coincidence that this latest attempt to block observation of the seal hunt follows on the heels of resolutions in the European Union and German Parliament to ban seal products.”
Canadian lawyers argue the attempts to block observation of the commercial seal hunt violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Canadian criminal lawyer Clayton Ruby said, “Canada’s oceans belong to all Canadians. If there is no one there to observe, Canadians can be kept in the dark and unaware of the cruelty of this savage hunt. This is a clear and disturbing example of Government affording more rights to industry than to citizens. Regardless of where they stand on the issue of sealing, Canadians need to consider very seriously how such a precedent could affect them.”
Over the years, the Canadian government has placed a number of unconstitutional restrictions on observation of the commercial seal hunt. These restrictions, including maintaining a ten meter distance from sealers, apply only to observers, not seal hunters. For example, earlier this year observers traveling with the HSUS – including a journalist from Reuters news agency – were accused of being slightly within ten meters of a sealing vessel and were immediately arrested and denied further observation permits. Sealers and others — who were filmed earlier in the day repeatedly coming within ten meters of HSUS observers as they tried to ram HSUS inflatable boats — were not charged with any violations.
Newfoundland politicians have defended this unequal application of law by presenting a false image of hunt observation, describing hunt observers (most of whom are independent journalists, parliamentarians and scientists) as ‘protesters’ and the peaceful videotaping and photographing of the killing as ‘protesting’ or ‘disruption’ of the hunt. Notably, the only violence toward people that has ever occurred on the ice floes has been from sealers toward observers – and that violence has steadily increased over the years. Journalists and parliamentarians are routinely physically assaulted, threatened and harassed by sealers on the ice floes. These incidents, some of which have put observers’ lives at risk, have been thoroughly documented, yet no charges have ever been laid against the sealers involved.
Animal protection groups believe this latest attempt to cover up the brutality of the commercial seal hunt is in direct response to the closing of global markets for seal products. In September, the European Parliament passed a declaration calling for a ban on the trade in harp and hooded seal products in the European Union. In all, 425 members of the parliament endorsed the declaration—the highest number of signatories on any written declaration in the history of the parliament.
Last week, the German parliament voted unanimously to ban the import of seal products. Its motion calls for the government to work toward a European ban and to introduce a temporary ban in Germany until the European Union ban is passed. Exports to Germany have grown in recent years and so far this year exports to Germany account for nearly 20 percent of all Canadian reported seal fur-skin exports. In addition, several European countries, including Belgium, Italy, Croatia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have taken steps to ban seal products. They join Mexico and the United States, which have banned all trade in marine mammal products.
In addition, more than 330,000 consumers and over 1,000 restaurants, grocery stores and other seafood distributors mostly in the United States have joined a boycott of Canadian seafood. Many of these companies and individuals are choosing specifically to boycott Canadian snow crabs, which account for half the landed value of the fishing industry of Newfoundland – the province where almost all sealers reside and where the annual hunt takes place. Since the boycott began, the value of Canadian snow crab imports to the U.S. has declined by $330 million.
With more than 1 million seals killed in the past three years alone, Canada’s commercial seal hunt is the world’s largest slaughter of marine mammals. Veterinary experts who have studied the seal hunt in recent years have concluded it results in “considerable and unacceptable suffering” and scientists argue current kill levels pose a threat to seal populations, particularly in light of the potential devastating impacts of climate change on these ice dependent animals.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization with nearly 10 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country.

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MEPS VOTE TO HALT SEAL SLAUGHTER

oipainternational — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 09:21:25 +0000

The European Parliament has adopted a proposal by South-East England’s Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas designed to halt the annual slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seals in Canada and Russia.
Written Declarations rarely receive the support of sufficient MEPs to become the parliament’s official policy – but with 373 signatures lodged the call for a seal fur import ban has done so two weeks ahead of its parliamentary deadline.
Dr Lucas said: “This is fantastic news, which brings us a significant step closer to ending the cruel and entirely unnecessary slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seals in Canada and Russia every year. I am delighted that a majority of MEPs from all political groups and EU member nations have agreed that this barbaric practice must be ended – and the onus is now on the European Commission to act immediately, as MEPs have demanded, before next year’s hunt.”
“An important step – said Massimo Pradella, Chairman OIPA International – thanks also to OIPA online petition to all the Members of the European Parliament, urging them to sign it. Every year hundreds of thousands of seals pups – most just a few weeks old – are clubbed on the ice floes or shot from moving boats as they attempt to flee. Many are skinned alive”.
The declaration calls for the European Commission to immediately ban the trade in seal body parts and products – a ban already adopted in Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Croatia and the US, and under consideration by the Council of Europe.

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HSUS IN ACTION

oipainternational — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 09:06:50 +0000

On Sunday. March 26th, an inflatable boat with six crewmembers from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and a reporter from Reuters was deliberately rammed by a sealing boat. The inflatable was forced up on an ice flow and the prop was damaged.
Although the incident was observed by Canadian Fisheries officers, no charges were laid against the sealers. Instead the officers arrested the six HSUS members and the reporter alleging they were within 10 meters of sealers which in Canada is against the law even if a citizen has a permit to document the killing. The real reason for the arrest was to seize the evidence. The video, digital images and film were confiscated.
The crew were then released. Roger Simond said an investigation will be held to determine if charges will be laid against the seven people. There is no investigation into the complaint that the sealers rammed the inflatable boat. To lay a complaint against the sealers, the assaulted HSUS crew need to file charges with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Mounties require documentation as evidence. This documentation is now in the hands of Federal Fisheries Officers. How convenient.
Rebecca Aldworth of HSUS said they did not violate the regulations. According to Rebecca, the sealers turned and attacked her crew. When the sealers rammed the inflatable they came within 10 meters of the HSUS people. As a result the HSUS people have been cited although it was the sealers that approached them. Earlier the sealers had approached the HSUS inflatable and sealers tossed bloody seal intestines and gore at the seal defenders.
This is of course typical of how law enforcement is heavily biased in favor of seal killers.

From Captain Paul Watson
Founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (1977)
Co-Founder of Greenpeace International (1979)
Co-Founder of the Greenpeace Foundation (1972)
National Director of the Sierra Club USA (2003-2006)
Director of the Farley Mowat Institute irector of the Farley Mowat Institute
http://www.seashepherd.org/

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CRUELTY EXPOSED

oipainternational — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 08:23:28 +0000

ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND – A coalition of organizations including the Franz Weber Foundation, The Humane Society of the United States/Humane Society International and Respect for Animals, brought members of the international media and a Member of the European Parliament to observe the commercial seal hunt in the Front this week. In the face of violent mobs and blockades as well as unlawful denial of permits to observers by the Canadian government, independent journalists were able to film the commercial seal hunt in the Front for the first time in more than two decades.
“The illegal and violent actions by seal hunt supporters this year have exposed the depths to which the sealing industry and Canadian government are prepared to sink to defend the indefensible,” stated Rebecca Aldworth, director of Canadian wildlife issues for The Humane Society of the United States.
“Angry crowds used violent tactics to try to stop us from leaving for the hunt area,” said Vera Weber, coordinator of the Franz Weber Foundation. “The local police did nothing to prevent this. Having witnessed firsthand the way that the Canadian government colludes with this corrupt industry, I can only compare it to a banana republic. I travel extensively around the world in my work and this is the first time I have ever witnessed anything like this – Canada should be ashamed.”
In Blanc Sablon, observers were held hostage by a crowd measuring in excess of 80 people. Vehicles attempting to depart for nearby helicopters were followed, and one was rammed by a local truck and forced off the road—endangering the lives of the journalists inside.
“British people are horrified by what is happening in Canada,” said Nicki Brooks, director of Respect for Animals. “The British government has already stated its opposition to the hunt, and its intent to explore a ban of seal products.”
“My conclusion from being here over the past week is that the sealers and the Canadian government obviously have something to hide since they go to such great lengths to bar observation of the hunt,” said Carl Schlyter, a Swedish Member of the European Parliament. “The only logical solution is for us to take initiatives at the European level and follow the example of Belgium and Italy who have already banned all seal products.”
“Some of the most important media outlets in the world witnessed the seal hunt this year, as well as the actions of the Canadian government to hide the sealing industry,” said Mark Glover, UK director of Humane Society International. “In Britain and around the world, Canada’s international reputation is being severely and irreparably damaged by the continuation of this brutal slaughter.”
The footage that was obtained of the seal hunt in the Front shows clear violations of the Marine Mammal Regulations that govern the hunt, including sealers shooting seals, then clubbing them, and finally stabbing them with hooks and dragging them across the ice – all without checking to ensure the animals are dead.
Last year, when the first baby seal was killed on the ice, The Humane Society of the United States and a powerful network of animal protection groups representing tens of millions of people around the world declared a global boycott of Canadian seafood products. More than 400 seafood wholesalers, restaurants and grocery stores, and 280,000 individuals are taking part in the boycott, and values of Canadian seafood exports to the United States have already declined by ten times the value of the seal hunt.
“The actions of the sealers and the Canadian government have backfired, and have simply increased global support for the campaign to save the seals,” said Aldworth. “Our campaign is gaining momentum around the world, and it is our intention to ensure this is the last baby seal slaughter we will ever have to witness.”

Info: http://www.hsus.org/

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FISHERIES MINISTER LOYOLA HEARN ANNOUNCES SEAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

oipainternational — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 09:21:20 +0000

March 15, 2006
OTTAWA – The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), today announced the 2006-2010 Atlantic Seal Management Plan.
“We feel we have struck the appropriate balance between conservation and economic concerns,” said Minister Hearn.
“The seal hunt is humane and sustainable and it is an important economic activity for sealers and communities in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.”
The harp seal population increased steadily from the 1970’s through to the mid 1990’s. The population has remained relatively stable since then.
“The harp seal herd is abundant and healthy. It stands at approximately 5.8 million animals; nearly triple the size of the herd in the 1970’s,” said Minister Hearn. “This is a conservation success story.”
While the management plan spans five years, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for harp seals will be set on an annual basis. The TAC for 2006 is 325,000. This TAC level is consistent with levels set in recent years. Setting an annual TAC provides flexibility to allow for adjustments to changing environmental conditions.
Other factors, such as ice conditions, natural mortality, and incidental harvest or by-catch will be taken into consideration when setting future annual TAC levels.
An additional 10,000 harp seal allowance has been set aside for new Aboriginal initiatives, personal use and Arctic hunts. This one-year allowance will provide opportunities for Aboriginal communities to access the resource and benefit from this growing market.

From: Harpseals.org

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WHERE IS THE ICE?

oipainternational — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 09:16:00 +0000

Ice reports and forecasts indicate that there is a very high likelihood that there will be insufficient ice for the whelping of the harp seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence this year. Ice conditions this poor have never been seen before in recorded history. The last time conditions approached what we are seeing now at this time of year was in 1969.
The year 1981, was the third lowest ice year in recorded history.
In 1981, some harp seal mothers, who normally whelp only on ice, went to the shores of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and gave birth on land. That year, due to the lack of ice, hundreds of thousands of seal pups drowned. The seals who were born on land faced both natural dangers, like death by exposure, and the danger of death at the hands of thousands of sealers, both licensed and unlicensed, who took this rare “opportunity” to walk right up to a baby seal and kill it. Some of these seals were also attacked by domestic dogs.
Those who witnessed this remarkable event (including Stephen Best of Environment Voters, and Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society) reported horrors and atrocities that make even the annual seal “hunt” on ice look like a picnic.

From: harpseals.org

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