posted on March 21, 2007 11:14:37 AM
Las Vegas SUN
Canadian Seal Hunt Limits Undecided
CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island (AP) - Canadian officials said Tuesday they were uncertain if the controversial annual seal hunt can take place this year in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, citing higher-than-normal mortality rates of seal pups and poor ice conditions.
"It's unusual and it's giving us concern," Fisheries Department spokesman Phil Jenkins said.
Normally, the federal Fisheries Department has set catch limits by this time of the year. The hunt traditionally gets under way by late March in the southern Gulf, the area that gives rise to the most controversy because it is accessible to observers and seal hunt protesters.
"Our advice to the industry is be patient," Jenkins said. "The minister wants to do the right thing for the herd and make sure it's there for generations to come as abundant as it has been in the past."
Fishermen sell seal pelts, mostly for the fashion industry in Norway, Russia and China, as well as blubber for oil, earning about $60 per seal.
The Canadian government and isolated fishing communities insist they need the supplemental income from the hunt, since cod stocks have dwindled. The slaughter of some 320,000 seals in 2005 brought in $14.5 million in revenue.
The hunt has been condemned by some celebrities, most notably former Beatle Paul McCartney and his estranged wife, Heather Mills, as well as French film legend Brigitte Bardot and actress-model Pamela Anderson.
Although the most recent count from 2004 estimated the harp seal herd on the East Coast at about 6 million, several consecutive years of poor ice and high pup mortality rates are taking a toll on the population.
Newborn seals cannot swim in the first few weeks of life and require ice for survival.
Last year's total allowable catch was 335,000 seals. Most of them - about 70 percent - were taken off the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador in an area called the Front.
Jenkins said ice conditions were better in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence and in the Front, and seal hunting in those areas was expected to proceed as usual.
Sheryl Fink, a researcher with International Fund for Animal Welfare, a seal hunt protest group, said surveillance flights were reporting "not a single harp seal to be found in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence."
The European Union's executive commission announced earlier this month it had ordered a study to establish whether seal hunting is carried out in a humane manner, but rejected calls for an immediate EU-wide ban on the import of seal fur production.
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"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
Ann Coulter
[ edited by Linda_K on Mar 21, 2007 11:16 AM ]
posted on March 21, 2007 06:41:56 PM
Liar_K and classic have both been very concerned about the killing baby seals for years. Now they don't say a word about their f-ed up party running what many call baby killers for President.
NO ONE CAN BELIEVE THIS BUNCH OF FLIP FLOPPING DESPERATE FOOLS??
Here is another example of Liar_k's BULL ROAR. We all remember when Liar_k was bragging about how many people owned houses under Bushy. Now that 2 1/2 million houses are in foreclosure with millions more to come. Now Liar_k blames the victims of Voodoo economics during the Bush years.
posted on March 21, 2007 11:45:25 PM
Oooooh, Kiara , could you please get me enough for a lovely jacket??
Ok, now remember everybody...you're supposed to forget the debacle in Iraq, the CONVICTION of Scooter, the Tom Delie mess(ongoing), the act of treason(ongoing), Duke Cunningham, Foley the pedophile, firing attorneys for not being "bushy" enough, the destruction of the environment bush style and a dozen or so other scandals and worry about what CANADA is doing.....
posted on March 29, 2007 01:59:00 PM new
Linda, our country is being run by an ultra conservative that believes in big industry over people's welfare, while keeping antiquated traditions alive (like Bush). Kiara has been telling you this since Harper got in.
Instead of fishing and hunting being slowly phased out on a commercial level (not just in Canada, but in all countries), the conservatives ENCOURAGE it, which is why the cod supply is dwindling, NOT because seals are eating all the fish. (Again, it's illegal to kill baby seals but it's moot because they starve to death.)
Instead of these families encouraging young boys and girls into other professions, the tradition is to have them continue on to be fishermen and hunters just like dad. And just like mom and dad, they end up having 5 or 10 children they can't support on their dwindling fishing/hunting income, so they cry to our government to help support them (Canada PAYS people to have children until they're 18!!!) Conservatives lap this backwards way of thinking like dogs. Do you see how it's a vicious cycle?
And just like Republicans, our Conservatives will just not think outside the box if it takes one cent away from an industry, ESPECIALLY our beloved fishing industry.
What would you suggest Linda? People have been flown in and dyed pelts, laid down on seals to protect them from being shot, etc. Someone's making money from this or it wouldn't be happening. How can you tell your government to stop any form of slaughter?
