Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Canada's annual seal hunt off to slow start
28 MARCH 2010 - 22H45
Canada's annual seal hunt off to slow start
Seal hunters kill a seal near their boat in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in 2008. Canada's annual seal hunt was off to a slow start Sunday, with most fishing boats still moored in their harbors, as missing ice floes in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence kept their prey hundreds of miles to the north.
AFP - Canada's annual seal hunt was off to a slow start Sunday, with most fishing boats still moored in their harbors, as missing ice floes in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence kept their prey hundreds of miles to the north.
"I know one boat set sail tonight, at around 4:00 am in the morning," Magdalen Island seal hunters' association president Denis Longuepee told AFP.
"In past years, there were 10 to 40 boats weighing anchor" to go seal hunting, he added.
About a dozen hunters are aboard a ship trying to find a small harem of 1,000 seals spotted Saturday from a plane by Fisheries and Oceans Canada near Blanc-Sablon, in the northeastern corner of Quebec province, according to Radio Canada.
The mild winter this year has hampered the hunt for the Greenland seal. A lack of ice floes in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence has kept some 300,000 seals far to the north, off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, where there is coastal ice.
That's good news for seal hunters in Newfoundland and Labrador, said Longuepee.
Seal hunting brings in 20-30 percent of the yearly revenue of 400-500 hunter-fishermen in Magdalen Islands. The rest of the year, they fish for lobster and clams.
Seal hunting is highly controversial for its perceived inhumane killing methods. The 27 European Union states in July 2009 adopted a ban on seal products, ruling the goods could not be marketed from 2010.
Around 6,000 Canadians take part in seal hunting each year along the Atlantic coast, and 25 percent of their sales had come from exporting products to Europe.
Canada and Greenland account for more than 50 percent of the 900,000 seals slain in the world each year. Other seal-hunting countries include Norway, Namibia, Iceland, Russia and the United States.
"I know one boat set sail tonight, at around 4:00 am in the morning," Magdalen Island seal hunters' association president Denis Longuepee told AFP.
"In past years, there were 10 to 40 boats weighing anchor" to go seal hunting, he added.
About a dozen hunters are aboard a ship trying to find a small harem of 1,000 seals spotted Saturday from a plane by Fisheries and Oceans Canada near Blanc-Sablon, in the northeastern corner of Quebec province, according to Radio Canada.
The mild winter this year has hampered the hunt for the Greenland seal. A lack of ice floes in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence has kept some 300,000 seals far to the north, off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, where there is coastal ice.
That's good news for seal hunters in Newfoundland and Labrador, said Longuepee.
Seal hunting brings in 20-30 percent of the yearly revenue of 400-500 hunter-fishermen in Magdalen Islands. The rest of the year, they fish for lobster and clams.
Seal hunting is highly controversial for its perceived inhumane killing methods. The 27 European Union states in July 2009 adopted a ban on seal products, ruling the goods could not be marketed from 2010.
Around 6,000 Canadians take part in seal hunting each year along the Atlantic coast, and 25 percent of their sales had come from exporting products to Europe.
Canada and Greenland account for more than 50 percent of the 900,000 seals slain in the world each year. Other seal-hunting countries include Norway, Namibia, Iceland, Russia and the United States.
Minister Shea Increases Quota for Atlantic Seal Harvest
March 15, 2010
OTTAWA – The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced an increase in the total allowable catch (TAC) for harp seals for the 2010 Atlantic seal harvest.
“Our government recognizes the importance of the sealing industry to the people and the economies of Canadian coastal communities,” said Minister Shea. “Ongoing efforts are made to ensure our management decisions include the perspective of our scientists, as well as the input of Canadians in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the North who work and depend on the industry for their livelihood.”
The 2010 TAC for harp seals has been increased to 330,000. With a potential population range between 6 million and 7.7 million, the current estimate is approximately 6.9 million, or more than triple what it was in the 1970s.
The one year total for the harp seal TAC includes a developmental allocation of 20,000 seals to support three value-added projects proposed by the sealing industry in Atlantic Canada. These new projects are part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s ongoing efforts to encourage the industry to make the fullest possible use of the harvested animals.
Consistent with previous regional shares, about 70% of the TAC is allocated to the Front (waters east of Newfoundland and Labrador), while the Gulf of St. Lawrence receives about 30% of the TAC.
The TAC for the grey and hooded seals remain the same as last year’s, with respectively 50,000 and 8,200 animals. The estimated populations of the grey and hooded seal herds are over 300,000 and 600,000 respectively and continue to grow every year.
Effective immediately, the freeze on personal use licenses has been lifted. Coastal Canadians will be eligible to apply for a licence to hunt up to six seals per season for personal use. Every sealer must follow the Marine Mammal Regulations dealing with sealing methods, including the three-step process for harvesting seals, as well as all other licence conditions required by DFO.
“This Government is united in its support of the thousands of coastal Canadian sealers who rely on the seal hunt for their livelihood. The seal hunt is a sustainable activity based on sound conservation principles,” said Minister Shea.
“This Government is united in its support of the thousands of coastal Canadian sealers who rely on the seal hunt for their livelihood. The seal hunt is a sustainable activity based on sound conservation principles,” said Minister Shea.
Fishery Officers will be rigorously monitoring this year’s harvest to ensure compliance with the regulations and licence conditions and will take enforcement action when necessary.
Individuals will also again be permitted to observe the harvest from a safe distance, as per the conditions set out in the Marine Mammal Regulations. While the Department of Fisheries and Oceans respects the right of individuals to voice their opinions about the seal harvest, observers are reminded that they must remain at least 10 metres from sealing activities at all times and are not to disrupt these activities or to act in a manner that threatens the safety of sealers, law enforcement officers or other observers.
To learn more about the seal harvest, visit: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/seal
- 30 -
For more information:
Nelson Kalil
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537
Nancy Bishay
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
NR-HQ-10-11E
The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans supports sealers
OTTAWA - Today the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans issued the following statement to highlight the Government of Canada’s long-standing support for Canadian sealers and the Traditional harvest:
“Canadian sealers, processors, artisans and Inuit produce some of the finest quality products in the world. I am proud of our government’s record of supporting and defending those who depend on this important traditional industry.
“For Canada, sealing is about much more than fur. Our government is strongly encouraging industry to continue to look for new and innovative ways to make the fullest use possible of the animals harvested each year. In fact, the trade of other seal products, such as oils and meat, represents a growing share of what is already a multi-million dollar business providing an important livelihood for remote coastal and Northern communities.
“This Government is committed to supporting these endeavours in several ways. For example, we are actively working to advance and expand markets at home and abroad for Canadian fish and seafood, including all kinds of seal products. In January I visited China, the world's largest consumer of fish and seafood to promote Canadian seal products there. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans continues to work with the Canadian Food inspection Agency to have seal meat certified for human consumption in that country.
“We are also supporting ongoing research into potential use of seal heart valves in human transplants by providing a team of medical researchers with a developmental allocation of seals for research purposes for up to five years.
“Finally, we will continue to counter campaigns of misinformation that too often get spread by certain animal rights activists. We respect the right of individuals to voice their opinion; all we ask is that these opinions be based on facts. Many activist groups appeal to the emotions of Canadians while misleading them about the facts of the seal harvest. The government will continue to oppose these campaigns at home and abroad.
“For Canada, sealing is about much more than fur. Our government is strongly encouraging industry to continue to look for new and innovative ways to make the fullest use possible of the animals harvested each year. In fact, the trade of other seal products, such as oils and meat, represents a growing share of what is already a multi-million dollar business providing an important livelihood for remote coastal and Northern communities.
“This Government is committed to supporting these endeavours in several ways. For example, we are actively working to advance and expand markets at home and abroad for Canadian fish and seafood, including all kinds of seal products. In January I visited China, the world's largest consumer of fish and seafood to promote Canadian seal products there. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans continues to work with the Canadian Food inspection Agency to have seal meat certified for human consumption in that country.
“We are also supporting ongoing research into potential use of seal heart valves in human transplants by providing a team of medical researchers with a developmental allocation of seals for research purposes for up to five years.
“Finally, we will continue to counter campaigns of misinformation that too often get spread by certain animal rights activists. We respect the right of individuals to voice their opinion; all we ask is that these opinions be based on facts. Many activist groups appeal to the emotions of Canadians while misleading them about the facts of the seal harvest. The government will continue to oppose these campaigns at home and abroad.
“While sealing income may seem small to affluent American and European lobby groups and celebrities, the reality is much different for sealers in remote, Northern and coastal communities. From coast to coast to coast, the Government of Canada will stand up for our sealers, their livelihood and future depends on our actions and leadership today. ”
- 30 -
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Nelson Kalil
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537
Nancy Bishay
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
Why We Should have a seal Cull and support our Sealers
Nobody seems to mind a Deer Cull in southern Ontario. Most years now there is a deer season in southern Ontario to cull the thriving deer populations. There is not a sweeter graceful more harmless creature than a deer, but nobody complains about slaughtering them for fur and food. After all it's your corn and petunias they are eating.
The seal is a fierce and clever predator, Their populations are thriving. Each seal eats 5 kilos of fish a day as we are trying to restore the cod population. Every fisherman has lost thousands of dollars to seals destroying mackerel nets and shellfish traps. The seal is also a killer he is in the foodchain he is in the game.
what is the difference between between a Seal and a Deer?
Our Maritime fisher folk are always hard pressed to make a living. The sea is a harsh mistress and no fishery or harvest or market is a sure thing, especially in modern times. The seals need to be culled and it makes sense to give the fisher folk an other opportunity to add to their livelihood.
The Hypocrisy of the European Union should be especially troubling. it as the fathers of these same sealers who first out of the gate to save these same ingrates in two wars.
The Seal Protesters are the most despicable because they use this cause as their cash cow they will say and do anything to keep the cash coming.
Even worse is the propaganda film that they produced that portrays sealers as brutal sadistic killers.
it is just not true. They are honest hard working family men trying to make a living.
If they had any integrity they would be making peace with the sealers and setting up a reasonable and humane seal cull. the sealers (fisher-folk) are closer to seals and could supply valuable information. Believe me more seals are suffering because there isn't one.
Blood and Ice make for great contrasts dramatic photos. But it should be clear that sealers are no crueler than any others in the killing of animals for food and fur. All harvesting of animals is brutal
I don't like killing anything but I am what i am. Just because we are distanced from the abattoir and let others do our butchering for us and we buy our meat in plastic packages. We should not impede others who haven't forsaken our hunter/gather heritage to make their living. If you eat meat or fish you are in the game and should't condem the people who supply you.
and when we have Foreign Governments attacking our own we should rally to their defence.
--
The seal is a fierce and clever predator, Their populations are thriving. Each seal eats 5 kilos of fish a day as we are trying to restore the cod population. Every fisherman has lost thousands of dollars to seals destroying mackerel nets and shellfish traps. The seal is also a killer he is in the foodchain he is in the game.
what is the difference between between a Seal and a Deer?
Our Maritime fisher folk are always hard pressed to make a living. The sea is a harsh mistress and no fishery or harvest or market is a sure thing, especially in modern times. The seals need to be culled and it makes sense to give the fisher folk an other opportunity to add to their livelihood.
The Hypocrisy of the European Union should be especially troubling. it as the fathers of these same sealers who first out of the gate to save these same ingrates in two wars.
The Seal Protesters are the most despicable because they use this cause as their cash cow they will say and do anything to keep the cash coming.
Even worse is the propaganda film that they produced that portrays sealers as brutal sadistic killers.
it is just not true. They are honest hard working family men trying to make a living.
If they had any integrity they would be making peace with the sealers and setting up a reasonable and humane seal cull. the sealers (fisher-folk) are closer to seals and could supply valuable information. Believe me more seals are suffering because there isn't one.
Blood and Ice make for great contrasts dramatic photos. But it should be clear that sealers are no crueler than any others in the killing of animals for food and fur. All harvesting of animals is brutal
I don't like killing anything but I am what i am. Just because we are distanced from the abattoir and let others do our butchering for us and we buy our meat in plastic packages. We should not impede others who haven't forsaken our hunter/gather heritage to make their living. If you eat meat or fish you are in the game and should't condem the people who supply you.
and when we have Foreign Governments attacking our own we should rally to their defence.
--
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About Me
- Gary LeDrew
- Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Artist / Writer garyledrew@gmail.com 902-270-0910