IFAW: Shocking new footage from seal hunt refutes ‘humane hunt’ claims of Canada

[Barrett808]

Source: IFAW

IFAW: Shocking new footage from seal hunt refutes ‘humane hunt’ claims of Canadian delegation touring Europe

(Ottawa, Canada – April 4, 2008) – As Canadian government officials tour Europe in a bid to forestall an EU ban on seal products, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) released shocking new video evidence refuting the government’s claims that Canada’s commercial seal hunt has been made more humane.

Unacceptable cruelty, including wounded but conscious seals struggling in agony on the ice and the hooking and hoisting of a live seal into a boat has been documented at the hunt this week, at the very same time Canadian officials are heralding this year’s seal hunt as the most humane ever.

“The cruelty we witnessed earlier this week should not be tolerated anywhere in the world,” said Sheryl Fink, IFAW senior researcher and veteran seal hunt observer. “Once they see the evidence for themselves, it will be hard to convince Europeans that this hunt is anything other than inherently inhumane.”

Video evidence from the 2008 seal hunt clearly shows that the Canadian government’s new condition of licence - that seals should be bled out at some point ‘where possible’ - is not being followed by sealers.

“The Canadian Government can spin all the stories it wants in Europe, but our observations reveal the truth - no new condition of licence will make this hunt more humane,” said Robbie Marsland, Director of IFAW UK. “The rule is a sham and the cruelty is continuing.”

“The highly-touted condition of licence was obviously meant to convince Europeans that things have improved here in Canada. Our videos show that the new condition is not being followed, and that the rule is not being enforced. The Canadian delegation in Europe must be having a hard time explaining this one,” added Fink.

Read more: http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/press-releases/opinion-former-index/animal-welfare/ifaw-shocking-new-footage-from-seal-hunt-refutes-%E2%80%98humane-hunt%E2%80%99-claims-canadian-delegation-touring-europe-$1217154$364355.htm

[canadianbeaver]

1. This is one of the things that make this canadian

ashamed..beyond belief.....I am so sorry!:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Number9Dream]

2. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): "hunt is inhumane"

snip> The EFSA opinion concludes that seals should be recognized as sentient marine mammals that can experience pain, distress, fear, and other forms of suffering - not fish, as they are classified in Canada. It also recommends that seals should be protected from killing and skinning practices that cause them pain, distress, and avoidable suffering.

http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=224351

[kristopher]

10. You should always check original sources

EFSA adopts a scientific opinion on the animal welfare aspects of different methods of killing and skinning of seals
19/12/2007

EFSA’s Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) Panel has adopted a scientific opinion on the killing and skinning seals. EFSA’s independent scientific experts have looked objectively at the best available evidence to assess whether seals can be killed rapidly and effectively without causing avoidable pain, distress, fear and other forms of suffering, and if so which methods are most likely to achieve that.

The Panel noted that there are only a limited number of quantitative studies published in peer-reviewed journals to be used as the basis for the evaluation of the efficacy of various killing methods with an adequately high degree of certainty. Additional studies are available, notably from industry-linked groups and from NGOs. The Panel concluded that such studies may contain potential serious biases, but nevertheless there were obvious areas of concern for seal welfare.

The Panel concluded that seals are sentient mammals who can feel pain, distress, fear and other forms of suffering. The Panel also concluded that it is possible to kill seals rapidly and effectively without causing them avoidable pain or distress. However the Panel also reported evidence that, in practice, effective and humane killing does not always happen.

The Panel recommended that the netting and trapping of seals underwater should not be used as it is inherently inhumane because of the possibility of prolonged suffering. Appropriate firearms can ensure effective killing on adults and young seals, as can hakapiks and other clubs when appropriately designed and used correctly but only on young seals.

Independent monitoring of seal hunts was recommended by the Panel: independent of both industry/commercial interests and NGOs. Hunts should be open to inspection, the Panel also said.

The importance of the training of hunters was stressed by the Panel. This is to ensure a high standard of competence in firearm and club use, as well as effective techniques to monitor unconsciousness and death...
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178671320476.htm



In other words, they are NOT recommending a cessation of clubbing seal pups as a means of harvest.

[Shoelace]

3. the EU ban is our only hope, email the EU Environmental head commissioner

I'm trying mightily to get this message out as I think this will be the one, last hope to stop these barbaric kills before the Harp seal population disappears from the world. Canada's last survey of the population was in 2004!
They have no idea of how many are left and their survey methods are so shoddy, mismanaged, it's a wonder they find any now. In fact, I've read that many hunters found few pups (compared to years past)in the past week.

To that end, please email Stavros Dimas, head of the EU Environmental Commission. He is already pretty convinced that the ban is needed but give him all the encouragement you can - PLEASE!

His email addy is: [e-mail]

Also, there's a better link to the new footage which actually shows how difficult it is to actually kill one of these seals. Be prepared for the worst as one of the seal pups is obviously still alive when the monster starts to skin him (they stopped short of showing the actual skinning of this creature).

http://blog.stopthesealhunt.com/2008/04/ifaw-hunt-watch.html

[SassinBoots]

7. Shoelace, THANK-YOU 4 the info... Have U sent it to newspapers too?...

... I feel strongly that your to-the-point message containing such relevant info would be perfect as an editorial or letter in one or more major national newspaper: surely they're compelled to publish well-expressed subjective views on the "anti-seal-hunt" side?
These newspapers have a DUTY to 'get the word out' to the growing angry masses who want to stop this desecration (which NOT ONE CANADIAN to whom I'VE spoken, ALL of whom wholeheartedly support Paul Watson and his band of braves, can ABIDE!) - & I think the clarity and conciseness of your piece alone would convince any editor to publish it...
Worth a try yes? (I guess one would have to send it to each paper at a time, I'm not sure their exact policies on exclusivity)~
Believe me, discussing the issue as I do with so many people here on the west coast, I KNOW Canadians are prepared to do what they can to end this unbearable barbarism, NOW!
Tks again,
SC

[Shoelace]

11. hey SassinBoots, welcome to DU!!

I nearly missed your post. That is a good idea and I've been thinking about doing just that. I've been very busy trying to get news out as it comes in so as to keep people aware that the seal populations are a vital link in the ecology of the oceans.
The good news is that the EU commission WILL recommend a ban on all seal products before Summer so I think we will see an end to these senseless, barbaric slaughters this year. I pray this is so.

ITMT, go to the link, sign the US Humane Society's petition and send to as many friends, family as you can. They are doing a great job at getting the word out to the world on many animal cruelty issues. Thanks for your thoughts and hope to see you post here often!

http://www.hsus.org/protect_seals.html

[Algorem]

4. Boycott Canada.

[losthills]

5. Here you go:

http://spider-webs.net/phpPETITION /

[Shoelace]

6. a better boycott (Canadian seafoods, etc)website: harpseals.org

they actually explain all the reasons why and how it is to be done, who is participating. They leave no stone unturned. Great website for the real story.

http://www.harpseals.org/helpstop/boycott.html

[Oerdin]

8. Screw the seals.

Seriously, they're not endangered and in fact are at historically high population levels so why are they protected? The anwser is because they're cut. Over population of cute animals still threatens the ecosystem and we need scientifically based population managment solutions since we've killed off most seal predators.

[Shoelace]

9. last year, nearly 100% mortality in Harp Seal pups due to global warming

and the ensuing loss if sea ice upon which these mother seals depend to give birth. Further, the Canadian DFO hasn't done a population survey since 2004. Also, their so called surveys are so shoddy and untrustworthy, that in fact, they have no idea of what the seal population is now.

Here's a report from the IFAW about observed conditions in 2007 after nearly 9 years of sea ice loss:

"The ice conditions this year are among the worst on record. Scientists have recorded below average ice conditions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off Newfoundland for the past nine out of 11 years. In 2002, 75% of harp seal pups born in the Gulf died due to lack of ice before the hunt even began. This year, the ice conditions appear to be even worse than in 2002 and scientists with IFAW are concerned that pup mortality will be extremely high.

“It’s highly likely that this year we could have close to 100% pup mortality in the Gulf of St. Lawrence due to the poor ice conditions caused by rising temperatures,” said Dr. David Lavigne, IFAW’s science adviser, who recently co-authored a report on the impacts of global warming on harp seals."
(more info at the link):
http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=209471

There is another article from New Scientist about the threats to the Harp, Hooded seal populations due to global climate change. Remember that last year saw the least amount of sea ice in recorded history in the Arctic.

http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn11489-lack-of-sea-ice-devastates-seal-populations.html

Seal predators which are Killer whales, Polar bears and Greenland sharks are declining too from the effects of global warming. Altogether, our oceans are dying for many reasons, not the least of which is overfishing and Canada's infamous poor management of their fisheries which have decimated Cod stock, etc.

Harp seals do consume the larger predators that feed on young Cod fish as well.
In a very sad irony, one scientist suggests that the rotting bodies of harp seal pups might be creating hypoxic conditions (lack of oxygen) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, thereby causing deaths of thousands of Cod and other fish. Nearly half a million rotting bodies of dead seals thrown overboard could conceivable create such hypoxic events. See this link for details:

http://www.fisherycrisis.com/seals/hypoxia.htm

Lastly, it is dumb statements like yours that have turned the world against not only the Canadian harp seal hunt in particular but Canadian government policies and attitudes in general. Educate yourself!