Des dizaines de milliers de phoques vont mourir en Afrique

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En Namibie, la chasse aux phoques (otaries à fourrure du Cap)commence le 1er juillet.

Le gouvernement néerlandais a adopté une loi interdisant l'importation de produits issus de l'otarie à fourrure du Cap qui prendra effet en septembre.


Dutch ban on seal products won't stop local culling - 22/06/07
www.namibian.com.na/2007/June/national/079DCCD797.html

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Seal-hunt central? Try Namibia - 03/07/07
www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070703.SEALHUNT03/TPStory/TPInternational/Africa/

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Environ 400 000 phoques à fourrure du Cap meurent chaque année. La faim, due à la surpêche, est la cause principale de leur mortalité, la chasse qui dure de juillet à novembre (quota pour 2007 : 86 000, dont 80 000 petits - agés de 7 à 11 mois) et la noyade : des milliers périssent capturés "accidentellement" (façon de parler) dans des filets de pêche et d'autres encore abattus pas "accidentellement" cette fois, par les pêcheurs qui leur mènent une guerre acharnée.

Ces phoques ont été bannis par les hommes des îles plus grandes (en fait, il sont été bannis de 99 % de leur territoire initial), réservées aux oiseaux nicheurs et surtout...à la récolte du guano ! Les îles sur lesquelles ils sont condamnés a vivre sont petites, et donc surpeuplées, et offrent peu ou pas de hauteur pour que les petits, qui ne savent pas encore nagés, puissent être protégés quand ces îles retrouvent inondées, ce qui est fréquent.


Seal Alert a été fondée en Afrique du Sud par Francois Hugo. Cette organisation, avec l'aide de la Sea Shepherd Society, mène des campagnes en faveur des phoques et s'occupe aussi de sauvetage et de réhabilitation.




Learn about the serious challenges they face
www.seashepherd.org/seal-alert/cape_fur_seals.html

About Seal Alert
www.seashepherd.org/seal-alert/about.html

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Seal Alert South Africa compte urgemment intenter une action en justice contre le gouvernement, sur la base que cette chasse n'est pas une chasse durable (le quota d'abattage des petits phoques est de 80 000, selon certaines données, il n'y auraient même pas 80 000 petits en vie) Or, elle est censée l'être.


=> Pour aider financièrement Seal Alert à mener cette action, contacter :
Mr. Jason Bell ou Christine Pretorius of IFAW en Afrique du Sud
ph: +27.21.424.2086; fax: +27.21.424.2427
email: cpretorius@ifaw.org ou
jbell@ifaw.org

A noter, pour les personnes désireuses de participer au financement de cette action, que la seule personne habilitée à prendre des décisions sera françois Hugo, de Seal Alert.


Sce : Alerte kinship Circle

________________


Many of you were deeply moved by images of nursing seal pups slaughtered
along Namibia's coast and have sent comments in response to Kinship Circle's
alert, 7/11/07: Namibia's Shame - Massacre Of Nursing Seal Pups & Bulls.

BELOW is a message from Nikki Botha, a spokesperson for Seal Alert South
Africa -- the group led by Francois Hugo, who has fought valiantly to end
the massacre. Kinship Circle is circulating this message on behalf of Seal
Alert South Africa, with the hope individuals and/or organizations will step
forward as DONORS for LEGAL ACTION against Namibian authorities.

Please read the proposal below for legal recourse against the seal killers.

Thank you,
Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle


Crimes Against Nature: Namibia


As you all know Francois Hugo (Seal Alert) has been deeply involved in
campaigning to end the Namibian Seal hunt. The intention of the anti-culling
campaign has always been to get Namibian Authorities to stop all
culling/hunting/harvesting activities; and as of yet we have not used this
campaign as a fundraising tool. We strongly believe that since the
authorities have failed to respond to any reason, one of our strongest
recourses now would be to explore our legal avenues...

The Namibia government knows they are on weak ground regarding the baby seal
culling issue. They also think we (supporters, NGOs, etc) are not serious
and are just seeking publicity for our funding coffers. They have this
perception because if we were serious about ending it, we would have gone go
to court to seek an immediate interdict to halt the hunt. No such attempt
has ever been tried, and this sends a certain message to the authorities.

After speaking to an attorney yesterday, now know that we are in a
precarious legal position. The rolling three-year quota was a smart move on
Namibia’s part as it forces us to act in an exceptionally short period of
time or lose the ability for a court application for next three years. The
first step we need to take in order to get Namibia to stop the hunt, is
obtaining an interdict. The first question a court will ask is "Why did you
not bring the application when the hunt started?”

So the longer we take, the weaker our legal argument and chance of success.
Namibia states its sealing policy is conducted under the constitution in a
sustainable scientific manner. They state pup population (December 2005) is
205 500 of which they awarded an 80 000 a year, rolling for three years, pup
culling quota. Scientifically speaking, 39% of the pups born are within the
scientific bounds of sustainability that states 29% - 45% as sustainable.

The reality of the situation is that according to Namibia, the pup
population count for 2005 (December) was a total of 205 000. 2006 saw a
recorded mass die-off. In December 2006, despite promises from the Namibian
government, population figures were not released (and to date these figures
are unknown). Two South African Scientists and one Namibian Fisheries
scientist stated in their research findings that there is a 62% pup
mortality rate prior to the start of sealing season that started on the 1st
of July. If you subtract 62% off the 205 000 pup population figures (before
the mass die-off occurred), you will find it leaves you with an amount of 78
090 pups that will be alive for sealing season. The quota set for the cull
is 80 000.

The conclusion is that this cull is clearly NOT sustainable and in violation
of their own policies of sustainable use.

What counts in our favour as well is that Namibia has stated the sealing
applies only to 80% of the population on the mainland. Again, 205 500 less
20% (island seal population) = 164 400 pups found on the mainland. Subtract
the 62% natural mortality rate and it will leave you with a total of 62 472
pups. The quota = 80 000.

Our case for the seals is solid. CITES exports records indicate that since
1990, sealers could only fill on average 66% of the "sustainable" pup quota.
This proves the cull is not sustainable for the seals or the sealers. What
counts in our favour as well is the confirmation last year by the Ministry
that the seal population in 2006 is still some 27% below the population
level in 1993. The Ministry and scientist reports confirmed a mass die-off
equal to the 1994 die-off (where Namibian scientists found 95% pup mortality
and half the adults) in 2000 and 2006.

Taking all this into consideration, we decided that we need to appoint an
attorney, apply for an interdict and go to court. But in order to do this,
we need a legal fund.

Should you be interested in being part of this process by contributing to
this legal fund, please contact:
Mr. Jason Bell or Christine Pretorius of IFAW in South Africa
ph: +27.21.424.2086; fax: +27.21.424.2427
email: cpretorius@ifaw.org or jbell@ifaw.org

Funders should please stipulate that as part of the conditions for the
funding, the sole legal decision maker should be Francois Hugo of Seal Alert
South Africa.

The application for this interdict is a matter of urgency – the longer we
wait to do so, the weaker our case becomes.

I thank you deeply and passionately for your time and consideration,
Miss Nikki Botha, nikkibotha@mailbox.co.za
Seal Alert South Africa – Spokesperson
http://www.sealalert.org
+27.21.790.8774
http://www.sealalert.org

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=> Manif à Prétoria en juin
www.animalrightsafrica.org/NEWS_Jun07_Protest_SealsNamibia.php

=> Boycott Namibia
www.boycottnamibia.co.za/about.php