Despite a drying up market for harp seal pelts since the European Union and Russia shut the door on them last year, Canada is still proposing to go ahead with a very high quota of harp seal pup kills again this Spring. On Tuesday of this week, the Canadian Federal Fisheries Department posted on their website that their goal to kill baby seals this year will be the same as last year at 400,000.
This is a very reckless quota and most likely an unattainable one because last year in 2011, it turned out to be one of the worst seasons on record with only 38,000 baby seals slaughtered according to federal officials. That number was less than 10 percent of the quota.
Rebecca Aldworth of the Humane Society International said the Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield is ignoring scientific advice that the quota should be lowered this year. She states this is because of poor ice conditions and declining stock. She added that she had just returned from monitoring seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and because of lack of sea ice this year there was a high seal pup mortality.
Even a Canadian Fisheries scientist has adviced that the quota be lowered this year to 300,000 due to poor ice conditions and a shortage of pupping grounds. But the Canadian federal government has long argued that the hunt is humane, tightly regulated and economically important to coastal communities.
Needless to say many conservation groups and scientists disagree totally with this stance by the Fisheries department saying that it flies in the face of proper fisheries management. Scientists have also warned that the harp seal population is declining while the productivity of the species also decreases. Once again the plight of innocent wildlife has fallen victim to the political agendas of the politicians involved.
This is a very reckless quota and most likely an unattainable one because last year in 2011, it turned out to be one of the worst seasons on record with only 38,000 baby seals slaughtered according to federal officials. That number was less than 10 percent of the quota.
Rebecca Aldworth of the Humane Society International said the Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield is ignoring scientific advice that the quota should be lowered this year. She states this is because of poor ice conditions and declining stock. She added that she had just returned from monitoring seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and because of lack of sea ice this year there was a high seal pup mortality.
Even a Canadian Fisheries scientist has adviced that the quota be lowered this year to 300,000 due to poor ice conditions and a shortage of pupping grounds. But the Canadian federal government has long argued that the hunt is humane, tightly regulated and economically important to coastal communities.
Needless to say many conservation groups and scientists disagree totally with this stance by the Fisheries department saying that it flies in the face of proper fisheries management. Scientists have also warned that the harp seal population is declining while the productivity of the species also decreases. Once again the plight of innocent wildlife has fallen victim to the political agendas of the politicians involved.
Sad...
I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT HURT,ABUSE,MAME OR KILL ANIMALS OR MAMMALS THAT CANNOT DEFEND THEMSELVES.
Some how this needs to be stopped.
If the population is declining there should be a ban to stop hunting these babies who in the h&*# kills babies?? For real ?? I am one angry momma!!!
Canada you are such a disgrace!
Look at those big black eyes and tell me that this precious little seal needs to be killed just for his pelt???? OMG This is ABSURD!!!! MURDER IS WHAT IT IS, EVEN THO IS NOT A HUMAN BEING. These are God's creatures and it is murder no matter how you look at it. PLEASE EVERY ONE THIS NEEDS TO BE STOPPED. My eyes are filled with tears just looking at this precious little baby!!!!
I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU CANADIANS!!!!!!! YOU WOULD DO THIS TO THESE PRECIOUS LITTLE BABIES JUST FOR THE PELTS???? SHAME ON YOU AND IF YOU WERE TO DO THIS IN THE STATES, YOU WOULD NEVER STEP FOOT BACK IN CANADA...............MURDERER'S IS WHAT YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!