Canadian seal industry faces `crisis' because of import bans,
sealers told (Seal-Hunt-Crisis)
Source: The Canadian Press
Jan 8, 2008 14:31

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ST. JOHN'S, N.L. _ The head of the Fur Institute of Canada says the
sealing industry is in a ``crisis'' situation because of legislation
in some European countries that bans the import of seal products.

Over the past year, a growing number of countries have passed, or
are considering, such bans.

Bruce Williams, chairman of the organization, says that momentum is
threatening the seal fishery and could cause its collapse if
countries such as Italy and France approve bans of seal products.

Williams says that's because the global fur industry is primarily
only interested in products that appear on the runways of Milan and
Paris.

Belgium and Holland have passed legislation banning seal products,
while Germany, Italy and Austria are drafting similar legislation.

The institute held a meeting today in St. John's with about 100
sealers to discuss the various challenges confronting their
industry.

This year's hunt is expected to begin in March.