Animal Advocates Watchdog

"It's a bloody industry." Putin condemns hunting of adult seals

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Russians+lead+seals/1385007/story.html

Times ColonistMarch 13, 2009

When today's Russia, hardly a model of heightened sensitivities,
decides its seal hunt is too barbaric to continue, the end is near for
Canada's sealers.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the ban on killing very
young seals would be extended to all of the animals. It's a "bloody
industry," he said, and the hunt should have been banned long ago.

Canada's government still defends the hunt on the ice off the Atlantic
coast. There are lots of seals, hunters in a poor part of the country
need the money and it's not much more cruel than a typical
slaughterhouse, the government says.

There's great debate about the economic impact, but it's likely
somewhere in the $7 million range.

Clubbing animals to death on the ice might be humane, but it doesn't
look it. The 2008 regulations were amended to require sealers to slit
the arteries under the seals' flippers after clubbing them; that was
to avoid any risk they would be skinned alive, but it highlights the
grisly nature of the hunt.

It's galling for hunters from Newfoundland and the Magdalen Islands to
be lectured by pop stars and politicians who have never witnessed the
hunt about something they have done all their lives. And they have
been the victim of misleading campaigns against the seal hunt.

But now the European Union is considering a ban on seal fur, a change
Canada is lobbying against. The publicity itself means markets will
dwindle. Prices are expected to be low this year.

And now Russia, with its gangs and crimes and assassinated
journalists, has decided the seal hunt is inhumane and must be banned.

There comes a time when a traditional practice becomes too great a
liability to continue. For the Canadian seal hunt, that time is now.
The hunt, by most standards, is cruel. The potential damage to
Canada's image and economy is significant.

Help the sealers, by all means. But don't let Russia set a higher
standard for humane treatment of animals.

Messages In This Thread

Good News: Canadian Senator may introduce legislation to end seal hunt
Bad News: Carries no legal obligation on government
Good News: EU to vote today on ban parameters
Rotten tomato award - Minister of Fisheries and Oceans defends "hard-working" sealers
That's how democracy works Jack!
Good News: European Parliament committee approved the proposal
Bad News: Exempts Inuit
The IMCO Opinion will go forward to plenary weeks from now
Please email your Senators *LINK*
In Response to seal hunt email campaign, government shuts down email servers *LINK*
Putin condemns hunting of baby seals
Re: Putin condemns hunting of baby seals
"It's a bloody industry." Putin condemns hunting of adult seals
Canadian senator makes futile bid to ban seal hunt

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