chasse au phoque

[Animal 0]

Peter O'Neil, CanWest News Service

Published: Wednesday, January 09, 2008


PARIS - A Europe-wide ban on seal products is at least 18 months away, according to a member of the European Parliament who is one of the Canadian government's top opponents in an emotional diplomatic battle. (La chasse commerciale au phoque débute en mars)

Swedish parliamentarian Carl Schlyter was responding Wednesday to a speech by Bruce Williams, president of the Fur Institute of Canada, who told a gathering in Newfoundland this week that the seal industry faces a "crisis" due to the spectre of a Europe-wide ban.

"He's right in the trend moving away from this. The public acceptance of this in Europe is very low, very low," Schlyter told CanWest News Service.


Schlyter, who introduced the anti-seal hunt declaration that was passed in the European Parliament in 2006, said European Union officials are struggling to come up with a legal basis to block imports of seal products.

Even if one were discovered immediately, it would still have to be debated and go through all the legislative hoops at the labyrinthian EU.

"So we are speaking of at least one and a half years."

The Canadian government has waged an aggressive diplomatic battle against the anti-sealing movement even though export of seal products, including pelts, meat and oil, totaled a relatively miniscule $18 million in 2006. Less than a third of that total, $5.4 million, went to the EU's 27 member countries.

Ottawa launched complaints before the World Trade Organization recently seeking to overturn seal product bans in Belgium and the Netherlands.

And Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn turned up the rhetorical stakes when he complained in Belgium that the ban would hurt Canadians whose relatives fought and died to liberate Europe.

Schlyter said Canada's efforts are counterproductive and reek of desperation.

"It's not paying proper tribute to the people who died from Canada during the two world wars. They were not there to defend the sealers; they were there to defend human rights."

An EU scientific panel accepted last month a report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which determined that while many seals are killed quickly and relatively humanely in Canada and other countries, there is "strong" evidence that some seals die a slower and painful death that includes bleeding and skinning while there are signs of life.

The panel recommended a series of measures to ensure sealers are adequately trained.

But Swedish parliamentarian Schlyter said stronger rules would be almost impossible to enforce given that the hunt takes place during a brief springtime period in remote parts of Eastern Canada and the North.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen

[Animal 0]

Federal fisheries ambassador too negative on seal hunt, N.L. gov't
says
9 hours ago (11 janvier 2008)

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The Newfoundland and Labrador government is
criticizing the federal fisheries ambassador for acknowledging that
animal rights groups have made strides in their campaign against the
commercial seal hunt.

Provincial fisheries minister Tom Rideout is accusing Loyola
Sullivan of exhibiting "an unnecessarily negative attitude" and not
recognizing the progress his government has made in defending the
hunt.

"We were astounded and surprised at the view taken by the Canadian
ambassador for fisheries conservation," Rideout said in a statement
Friday.

"It is never too late and this is quite a defeatist attitude for an
ambassador to take when the issue is still very much ongoing."

Sullivan, who attended a gathering of about 100 sealers Tuesday,
told reporters it's difficult to overcome the anti-sealing lobby now
because their message has acquired a strong foothold in Europe.

Despite rising opposition in Europe, Rideout said the province has
successfully promoted the industry.

Belgium and Holland have approved legislation banning the sale of
seal products, while Germany, Italy and Austria are drafting similar
legislation.

The European Union is also facing pressure to adopt its own ban.

The hunt for harp seals on the Atlantic coast usually begins in late
March or early April, depending on ice conditions.

In 2006, the hunt generated $33 million in landed value, according
to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.