Nunavut objects to proposed EU seal pelt ban

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Nunavut objects to proposed EU seal pelt ban


September 11, 2006
CBC News


Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik pressed French Tourism Minister Leon Bertrand about the importance of the seal hunt to the territory's economy during a weekend visit to the north.

Earlier this month, more than 350 European legislators issued a declaration calling on the EU to ban seal products to protest Canada's seal hunt. The anti-sealing campaign is not aimed at the aboriginal subsistence hunt and does not include pelts hunted by Inuit.



Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik, left, urged France's minister of tourism, Leon Bertrand, to consider the impact of the European Union's proposed seal pelt ban.
(Patricia Bell/CBC)

Although the French delegation came to Nunavut to talk tourism, Okalik put the seal pelt issue on the agenda as well.

"My visitors had some seal meat," said Okalik. "They're from Europe so they really liked the seal meat. I believe the ambassador really enjoyed a seal stew while visiting Pangnirtung."

Bertrand compared the seal hunt controversy to a similar push by Europe to have fishermen in French Guyana use smaller nets to protect some species, such as shrimp, which they depend on for their livelihood.

Contradictions often arise in the use of resources but what matters is finding a solution, he said.

Although he refused to take a position on the seal pelt debate, Bertrand said he realized the seal hunt means a lot to the Inuit people.

Bad for Canada, bad for Nunavut

Economic Development Minister Olayuk Akesuk says even though the ban is not directed at Inuit, it would hurt the territory's seal hunters.

"We're part of Canada …. If they say Nunavut won't be affected, it's still Canada that will be affected, and in the long run it could hit us in the end," said Akesuk.

"So it's important also that our territory send out messages."

The Nunavut government plans to develop a strategy to deal with the proposed ban, beginning with a call to the federal government to take on the issue.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2006/09/11/sealpelt-french.html