Sue's Blog

Friday, January 26, 2007

First fall-out from DFO's report on Seal Population

Seal Harvest takes first blow - partially as a result of DFO musing...



As we fully anticipated - the money making (protesters) of the Canadian seal harvest are taking advantage of DFO's public musings on a possible reduction of the seal quota.
First off the mark is the IFAW on the heels of a decision by Belgium to ban all seal imports.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM--(CCNMatthews - Jan. 25, 2007) - In a landmark unanimous vote for conservation today, the Belgian Parliament has banned the import of all seal products.

"We applaud the Belgian Government for taking this historic step and reducing the demand for seal products derived from a cruel and unnecessary commercial seal hunt," said Lesley O'Donnell, IFAW EU Director.

"We hope the Belgian example will encourage other European nations to adopt their own national bans, closing the door on the trade in seal products."

Across Europe there is a groundswell of opposition to Canada's commercial seal hunt.

The German Parliament voted unanimously on a motion urging the government to ban seal products, just one month after the EU Parliament passed a Written Declaration in support of an EU-wide trade ban.

"There is a clear message being sent to the Government of Canada," said Olivier Bonnet, IFAW Director, Canada.

"It is time the Canadian Government stopped propping up an industry which has no future.

"In light of this ban, and the Government's own scientific data showing the current hunt is unsustainable, the commercial seal hunt must end."

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