Press Release: Fur Institute of Canada
Friday, June 22, 2007
Ottawa, Canada-- Several European Union (EU) countries are once again preparing to ban the import of seal products, despite the fact that the EU supports renewed seal hunting activities in Scandinavia to the tune of over €100,000 per year since 2001.
According to the May 16 issue of Europolitics, the revival of the European seal hunting business is co-financed by the EU government through a community initiatives program called Interreg III Kvarken-MittSkandia. The program aims to promote the image of the seal as a source of revenue rather than a harmful species and threat to the future of fishermen. The program includes courses on the treatment and use of skin, meat, and oils, improving safety at sea, and hunting methods (respect for animals).
On April 28, 2007, a Belgian law came into effect officially banning the import of seals; a move expected to be followed by the Netherlands, Germany, UK, Austria, and France. The website for Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), who manage the hunting of seals in Canada, says the hunt is entirely sustainable. The harp seal population has grown from 1.8 million in the 1980's to over 5.5 million today, even while the managed seal hunt continues. Hunting quotas are determined through scientific processes and use a precautionary approach to ensure the health of seal populations.
Very little differentiates how seals are hunted in Canada to how they are hunted in Europe. Regardless, European lawmakers continue to incorrectly cite "cruelty" as a basis for their bans. 90% of seals taken in Canada last year were shot with high-powered rifles. The hakapik (or "club"), which is used the balance of the time, is also considered by veterinarians to be a humane weapon. "Having done the autopsy of hundreds of seals, I am convinced that the use of a hakapik is a very efficient way to kill young seals because their skull is so thin. In my opinion, it would be a serious mistake if the hakapik were ever banned", said Pierre-Yves Daoust, Wildlife Pathologist for the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island.
"Something is out of balance - but it is not the managed seal hunt in Canada," said Rob Cahill, Executive Director of the Fur Institute of Canada. "It is reasonable for the EU to support managed and humane seal hunting in their own territory, but it's the height of hypocrisy to tell Canada we can't do the same thing. It is utterly inappropriate that EU lawmakers pander to animal rights lobby groups on issues like biodiversity and conservation, but it's excessively unjust when people's livelihoods and culture are being treated as if they are disposable."
For further information, please contact:The Seals and Sealing Network, under the Fur Institute of Canada, a national non-profit organization promoting sustainable and wise use principles, is committed to the conservation and respectful harvesting of the world's seal species through sound scientific management and internationally accepted sustainable use practices.The Seals and Sealing Network is comprised of Conservationists, Inuit, Veterinarians, Health care practitioners, Government, and Industry representatives. For more information, please go to www.fur.ca or www.sealsandsealing.net
Pursuant to Title 17 U.S.C. 107, other copyrighted work is provided for educational purposes, research, critical comment, or debate without profit or payment. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for your own purposes beyond the 'fair use' exception, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Views are those of authors and not necessarily those of Canada Free Press. Content is Copyright 1997-2024 the individual authors. Site Copyright 1997-2024 Canada Free Press.Com Privacy Statement