Kelowna Cap News

Watson targets seal hunt

By Jennifer Smith
Staff Reporter
Sep 11 2005

Veteran environmentalist Paul Watson braves Arctic winds and Canadian law enforcement to expose what he calls the "largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world."
Next week, he visits Kelowna, sharing his experiences on the front lines of the battle between environmentalists and seal hunters, bringing images of the hunt to share with his audience-a practice which has him facing charges on the East Coast.
"You're not allowed to take a picture of a seal being killed," explained Watson, noting he believes the charges, and other marine "traffic violations" he's sighted with, are deterrents directed at his conservation efforts.
In order to make Canadian speaking engagements, Watson must take a red-eye flight Sunday to appear in a maritime court on a summary charge for photographing a seal's death.
After his court appearance the Green Peace founder-turned-Sea Shepherd captain returns to the West Coast for an appearance at the University of Victoria, followed by stops in Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto.
Actively campaigning against the hunt, Watson hopes to grow his boycott on Canadian fish products targeting the Department of Fisheries and Oceans policies by cutting off the demand for Canadian product.
"The only language they understand is economic," said Watson, noting Whole Foods Market, the British department store Marks & Spencer and Legal Seafoods are already boycotting Canadian fish in support.
In a telephone interview from the Sierra Summit in California on Friday, Watson said his efforts are now targeted at Red Lobster, a popular restaurant chain he hopes will take up the cause.
The Canadian government allows the seal hunt on the grounds there is an abundance of seals in Canadian waters, animals which they argue hamper cod fisheries as they are natural predators of the fish. Watson argues that killing the seals only leads to increased predator fish populations, which in turn jeopardize cod stalks.
Canadian seal hunters slaughtered over 320,000 animals during the March-April seal hunt this spring; Watson wants the killings stopped.
Watson's talk is sponsored by Kelowna's The Responsible Animal Care Society. "We feel that it's timely to bring him here,'" said Sinikka Crosland.
"As far as the seal hunt goes, it seems to be an unnecessary atrocity that happens year after year. This is a violation of the Criminal Code of Canada that seems to happen right there on the ice."
Crosland said the society actively opposes the killings and points out the Canadian government turns a blind eye to laws against animal cruelty in support of the hunt.
Watson speaks at the Mary Irwin Theatre Wednesday evening. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., tickets are $5 at the door.

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