Charges laid against 7 people over Gulf seal hunt
Last Updated: Friday, September 29, 2006 | 12:47 PM AT
CBC News <http://www.cbc.ca/news/credit.html>
Charges have been laid against seven people who were allegedly too close to
the seal hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence last winter.
An official with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans says the people were
charged with violating the terms of their observer licences by coming too
close to hunters and interfering with the hunt.
Rebecca Aldworth is amongst those charged.
(CBC)
Seven people, including members of the Humane Society of the United States,
were arrested on the ice floes in the Gulf following an encounter between a
seal vessel and an inflatable craft carrying observers.
Amongst those charged is Rebecca Aldworth, a high-profile activist with the
HSUS. Also charged were Chad Sisneros, Dan James Rudie, Peter Jrzybowski,
Mark Glover, Andrew Plumbly and Gregory Savoy.
They will appear in court on Dec. 6 to enter a plea on the charges.
Rebecca Aldworth
Director, Canadian Wildlife Issues
The Humane Society of the United States
Tel: (514) 395-2914
Fax: (514) 395-8021
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Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans Uses Baseless Charges to Harass Lawful Seal Hunt Observers
News Outlet Reports on Filed Charges to Seal Hunt Observers, Yet No Formal Notice Received
MONTREAL – (September 29, 2006) – Canadian Press (CP) reported that seven individuals receiving permits from the Canadian federal government to observe the 2006 commercial seal hunt will be charged with a violation of the terms of those permits. In the CP article an official with the Fisheries Department states the individuals violated the terms of their observer licenses by coming too close to seal hunters. The individuals include employees of The Humane Society of the United States. To date, the arrested individuals have not received official notification of the charges they face.
The permitted individuals – including an independent cameraman – were observing and documenting the annual hunt when they were stopped by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and accused of being slightly within a ten meter barrier observers need to maintain from sealers as a condition of observation permits.
“If charges have been laid, it is reprehensible that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) informed media before even informing the individuals involved,” said Rebecca Aldworth, hunt observer and director of Canadian wildlife issues for The HSUS. “The way in which the information was released reveals exactly what this is - a politically rather than legally motivated action. The HSUS filmed the entire incident, and our footage clearly shows we were not within the ten meter barrier. If there are indeed charges, we will fight them vigorously and we are confident that the charged will be fully exonerated.”
Three weeks ago, the European Parliament passed a resolution to ban harp and hooded seal products. Loyola Hearn, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, responded by saying “If they want a seal war they got one”. Yesterday, it was announced that the value of Canadian snow crab exports to the United States has dropped by nearly $300 million in the wake of a boycott of Canadian seafood launched by The HSUS in March 2005.
“Minister Hearn sees we are winning this campaign, and I believe he is prepared to do anything to shut us down,” continued Aldworth. “But he is fighting a losing battle because once an impartial court hears this case, we will be fully exonerated.”
Ironically, the vessel HSUS observers are accused of momentarily being too close to was filmed earlier that day repeatedly attempting to ram the HSUS’ rigid inflatable boats, hurling seal carcasses at the observers, deliberately harassing a seal pup, clubbing a seal pup and then allowing her to escape beneath the water’s surface, shooting at a seal in open water, stabbing and dragging animals that appeared to show responses to pain with metal hooks. Several of these incidences are apparent violations of the Marine Mammal Regulations, but to the knowledge of the HSUS, no charges have been laid against these sealers. In contrast, while The HSUS observers were accused of a very minor infraction – being momentarily slightly within an arbitrary buffer zone between sealers and observers – they were subsequently denied observation permits for the remainder of the 2006 seal hunt and have now apparently been charged.
Canadian politicians – including Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams and the Canadian Fisheries Minister, Loyola Hearn (also from Newfoundland) - have misinformed media and the public over the years about the true nature of interactions between observers and sealers on the ice. In reality, the only violence towards people that has ever occurred on the ice floes has been directed from sealers towards lawful, peaceful observers. Notably, while observers must remain 10 meters from seal hunters, sealers are not required to remain 10 meters from observers – and sealers routinely come within 10 meters of observers in their repeated and violent attempts to physically assault, harass and intimidate observers.
Documented attacks on peaceful and lawful HSUS observers in recent years include:
In 2005, a sealing vessel rammed an ice pan on which HSUS observers were filming live seals – two days before the hunt had even begun – putting observers’ lives at risk. During the seal hunt, sealers repeatedly charged at and threatened observers with hakapiks and knives. Ronald Sklar, Professor of Criminal Law at McGill University, notes the video evidence of these incidences of sealers’ aggression shows at least four violations of the Canadian Criminal Code.
In 2006, a sealing vessel rammed an inflatable vessel carrying journalists and HSUS observers, putting observers’ lives at risk. Sealing vessels repeatedly charged at HSUS inflatable vessels. Back on land, aggressive seal hunt supporters surrounded the hotel in which journalists and other observers were staying, refusing to allow them to leave for their helicopters to observe the seal hunt. A truck driven by one of these individuals rammed an HSUS van carrying independent journalists off the road, putting observers’ lives at risk.
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Editor’s Note: Footage of the incident is available upon request.
MEDIA CONTACT: Belinda Mager, bmager@hsus.org , 646-469-4987
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9.8 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org .
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L St., NW
Washington, DC 20037
www.hsus.org
Promoting the Protection of All Animals