December 29, 2008 Prince Edward accused of beating and lashing dogs, animal cruelty.
Prince Edward has caused international outrage when he was photographed swinging a 4-foot long walking stick over a pair of black Labradors.
The
Rescue (May 1, 2007)
Just received images from our friends
in Labrador showing some Cartwright sealers being rescued
by the Coast Guard. See
more here.
Feature
article: Seal
of approval Local
Labrador woman debuts fur designs at prestigious Montreal
fashion show. When
Rowena House left Happy Valley-Goose Bay to embark
on her career in business, she never thought her education
would take her to some of the most beautiful artic
regions in Canada. Read
the full story by Jamie Tarrant here
Research
shows that dietary supplementation of long-chain Omega-3
fatty acids can provide health benefits to every cell
in the body and especially benefits the brain, eyes,
nervous system and heart. Visit sealoil.com to learn more about the benefits of taking seal oil
supplements with your diet.
December 12, 2008 Ottawa berates Sea Shepherd captain for narwhal commentary (CBC.ca News)
Two federal ministers demanded on Monday that Paul Watson apologize for comparing the cull of hundreds of trapped narwhal to a war crime and step down as leader of the Sea Shepherd Society. In an online commentary late last month about the killing of 600 narwhals trapped in the ice near the Nunavut community of Pond Inlet, Watson "crossed the line beyond reasonable dissent," said Fisheries Minister Gail Shea and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, the MP for Nunavut, in a news release Monday. Full article here
December 2, 2008 Sealers should be taken off boat during hazardous ice tows: Fisheries report. MICHAEL TUTTON (The Canadian Press)
The coast guard should make it standard practice to leave the "absolute minimum" of crew aboard small vessels when they tow them through ice, says a report into the deaths of four sealers from Quebec. Full article here December 1, 2008 Hunters concerned regulations in wake of fatal accident could force them out of business. (The Telegram / The Canadian Press)
Sealers on Canada's East Coast say they could be pushed out of the annual hunt and their industry devastated if Ottawa toughens regulations in response to a deadly accident in heavy ice last March. Several fishermen in Iles de la Madeleine and Newfoundland said a recommendation in a Transportation Safety Board report released last week could force them to make unaffordable upgrades to their sealing boats. Full article here
November 19, 2008 No change in seal hunt despite EU threat: new fisheries minister
CBC News (cbc.ca)
Canada's new fisheries minister says she supports the commercial sealing industry and doesn't expect any major changes for next year's commercial hunt, despite a European Union proposal that threatens to ban seal products as early as 2009. News story here
September 25, 2008 Premier Williams tells Green Leader where to go
CBC News
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams has rejected an offer to campaign with Elizabeth May. Green party Leader Elizabeth May asked Williams to visit the riding of Central Nova in Nova Scotia where she's running against Conservative cabinet minister Peter MacKay. The premier's office said Williams turned her down because of the Green party's opposition to the seal hunt. A spokesperson for Williams said the Anything But Conservative campaign is still on — even though the premier won't campaign for the Greens. Full article and reader responses here (CBC News)
July 10, 2008 Prime Minister Harper talked up seal hunt at G8 meetings says Fisheries Minister Hearn
Prime Minster Stephen Harper’s hot topics at this year’s G8 summit meetings included green house emissions, Afghanistan and — the seal hunt.
Harper discussed the seal hunt at the bilateral meetings with with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, confirmed federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn in a statement today. The Telegram story is here May 12, 2008
"...we're coming to get you"
Cowardly terrorist style phone threats from animal rights mob made against sealers. RCMP investigating.
The RCMP are investigating harassing phone calls placed this spring to the homes of two sealers living in northeastern Newfoundland. Jack Troake, a Twillingate resident, has been outspoken in support of the controversial hunt for decades, and suspects that an unknown caller got his name from media coverage. (CBC story here) May 9, 2008
Judge refuses to release anti-sealing vessel when no one shows up to pay bond. (The Canadian Press)
A provincial court judge has rejected a Crown application to release the Farley Mowat, the protest vessel seized last month by the RCMP off the coast of Cape Breton. The Crown applied to have the vessel released from the port in Sydney upon payment of a $50,000 bond. But no one showed up in court or applied to get the vessel back. Its captain, Alex Cornelissen, and first mate Peter Hammarstedt are charged with violating the Fisheries Act by getting too close to the annual seal hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Rebecca Aldworth, and comapny set for Quebec court appearance
May 6, 2008
The trial for five seal hunt observers, including Rebecca Aldworth, who is from Newfoundland, charged with technical violations under Canada's Fisheries Act during the 2006 commercial hunt will resume in Quebec today. (VOCM news)
Lets hope the judge sets an example! May 2, 2008
Harvest could stay open till mid June. Managing Director of the CSA Frank Pinhorn said today that there are still up to 80,000 seals yet to be harvested and the hunt could stay open till early June. Ice is still an issue in the Straights for small boat operators. Pelt prices are presently at about $35.00. In other news DFO and the Fur Institute of Canada are holding meetings with all industry members in Montreal to discuss the new harvesting techniques and proceedures.
April 29, 2008 Canada must impose economic sanctions against countries that ban seal
products
Memeber of Parliament Gerry Byrne proposes a trade ban with Europe to counter seal products ban. Read his press relase here.
MP Byrne calls on seal meat to be used in food aid program
Also in a separate press release Mr. Byrne proposes a Food Aid program produced using seal by-products. Read that press release here.
April 28, 2008 Province wants federal plan to prevent EU ban on seal products (The Telegram)
The provincial government has called on the federal government to announce its plan to prevent the proposed European Union (EU) ban on the importation of Canadian seal products. The province also wants to know the federal government’s position on banning the hakapik. “The proposed ban being considered by the EU is unjust and it threatens the livelihood of the people of rural and coastal communities that depend on the seal harvest,” provincial Fisheries Minister Tom Rideout said. Full article here
April 24, 2008 Greenland claims Belgian law annulled Last week the Belgian Parliament adopted a law that forbids processing and sale of sealskin. The Government of Greenland believes that it is against The EU Treaty that concerns the Internal Market rules. Minister for Finance and Foreign Affairs, Josef Motzfeldt has therefore on behalf of the Greenland Government forwarded a request to the Danish Foreign Minister, Per Stig Møller. The request urges the Danish Government to let the EU Commission to take legal action against Belgium of breach of the EU Treaty. Full article here from Greenland's Government site
April 21, 2008 Harvest extended
Frank Pinhorn, executive director of the Canadian Sealers Association today said that the hunt on the front will continue for at least another month as at least 100,000 more seals have yet to be harvested. Presently pack ice is making it more difficult for small boat operators and this condition will improve as warmer weather arrives.
April 15, 2008 MP demands Canada get even MP Gerry Byrne demands for a trade ban with EU if they impose ban on seal products and will apply pressure with the Canadian Government during question period. It only seems fair that an equal trade ban take place now that the EU appears to have bought into the lies and propaganda the animal rights thieves have spewed on the EU parliament members. The CSA applauds his motions. Press release to come.
April 15, 2008 Rebecca Aldworth says not to ban hakapik.
An animal rights group and sealers finally united on one issue Wednesday involving the seal hunt; they're both angry about a call by the premiers of Newfoundland and Labrador and of Nunavut to ban the hakapik. More from CBC here
Hakapik may be phased out. Premier out of touch with industry.
The premiers of Newfoundland and Nunavut are calling for a ban on the use of the hakapik -- the spiked club that is one of the most contentious symbols of the Canadian seal hunt. Full Canadian Press story here
April 9, 2008
Member of Veterinary College says he's pleased with DFO ammendments, notes extra training will help sealers
A group of veterinarians from Canada, the U.S. and Europe met in 2005 to look at ways to minimize or eliminate suffering of animals during the seal harvest. A member of that panel was Dr. Pierre Yves Daoust of Charlottetown's Atlantic Veterinary College who now says he's pleased this practice was adopted, but added training in the method is important. CBC.ca news story here
April 8, 2008 Seal Harvest opens on the Front and Gulf this weekend amid ice concerns
The Seal Harvest
gets under way on the front this weekend and ice conditions will be less than ideal. The Coast Guard says the ice pack extends a couple hundred miles from shore. Some harbours have been freed of ice but have closed in soon after.
April 6, 2008 CHARGES LAID - FINALLY!
DFO Canada have finally laid charges against members of The Sea Shepherd Society aboard the crippled vessel the Farley Mowat (aka "It Barely Floats" to some of us). Charged are "Captain" Alexander Cornelissen and "First Officer" Peter Hammarstedt for being within the area that is too close to sealers trying to do their work. More charges may be following. (More of this story at VOCM) April 4, 2008 Green Party leader ditches Watson (The Telegram)
The leader of Canada’s Green Party has said she doesn’t want to be associated with Paul Watson and his comments that killing seals “is an even greater tragedy” than the death of four sealers. Elizabeth May told the Halifax Chronicle Herald yesterday that she will resign from the advisory board of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Even opponents of the seal hunt want sealers to be safe, May said. May said as the leader of a national party, she does not want to be associated with Watson’s comments.
Merci Saint Pierre et Miquelon! Saint Pierre and Miquelon fishermen cut the mooring ropes of the Sea Sheppard Society's wreck of a boat from the harbour there yesterday and warned his confused and bewildered crew not to ever come back. Watson was seen on CBC TV last night laughing and giggling at Halifax Airport as he planned his quick exit for the USA. Why has Watson abandoned his ship when things get tough? How do his fellow crew feel about the captain dashing for cover when under pressure from Canadian Fishery officials? The CSA would like to know why the police were not informed of Watson's whereabouts and questioned in light of recent charges from sealers who said they were endangered by Watson's boat this week on the ice.
The Canadain Sealers Association (CSA) applauds the support displayed by the the hard working fishermen of our neighboring European islands Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Irionic that their Government back in Paris is ready to support a ban on seal products in conjunction with the EU parliament in the coming months. Maybe pressure from industry leaders in Saint Pierre and Miquelon to the French government could have an impact on changing their vote?
April 3, 2008 ABANDON SHIP! PAUL WATSON TO BE CHARGED BY DFO There is a report today that "Captain" Watson has scampered for cover in the USA and has ditched his aging ship in Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn says charges will be laid after hearing first hand reports from sealers they were harrassed by Watson's vessel the Farley Mowat (aka the "Barley Flowts"). Watson was warned even before coming into Canadian waters if he came too close to the seal harvest he would be charged.
April 2, 2008
Canadian Seal Industry delegation meet European governments
Fisheries Ambassador Loyola Sullivan is heading to Europe with fellow industry leaders and politicians promoting the importance of the seal harvest. Representing the Newfoundland and Labrador Government is Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale, and from Nunavut is Premier Paul Okalik. Also going are officials from the Fur Institute of Canada. Visits to Belgium and France ( Paris) Berlin and Vienna are planned. Sullivan says they are meeting with members of Parliament and senior government officials discussing the sustainability of the hunt.
December 31, 2008 Inuit seal hunters exempt from proposed new rules
Inuit seal hunters in Nunavut won't need to worry about rule changes being proposed by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, an official says. The new regulations, quietly posted in a government publication over the weekend, propose banning the use of a traditional hakipik — a spiked club — on seals over one year old unless they had been shot first with a firearm. The rules would also force Canadian sealers to ensure the mammals are dead before hooking and skinning them. CBC.ca news story here
December 29, 2008 Ottawa posts new seal hunt rules; animal welfare groups not impressed (CP, Ottawa)
The federal government has quietly posted new seal hunt regulations that will slow down the controversial harvest by forcing sealers to take more time ensuring the mammals are dead before skinning.
The rule changes, which include beefed up federal enforcement, come barely a month after federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea said Canada was “proceeding as usual” with the 2009 hunt in the face of a proposed European Union ban on seal products.
A spokesman for Shea characterized the new regulations as modest modifications of existing practices. Full article here
Update: April 13, 2008
The captain and chief officer arrested by the RCMP tactical squad were in a Sydney, Nova Scotia courthouse this morning. They will have their hearing tomorrow. They've been charged with violating Canada's marine mammal regulations and the Fisheries Act. We are waiting to see when Rebecca Aldworth will be arrested for intimitading wildlife with her low flying helicopter squadron. Fisheries Minister Hearn today called these so called animal rights activists "a bunch of money-sucking manipulators" . The CSA couldn't agree more.
April 12, 2008
2 crew members arrested as anti-sealing vessel seized (CBC)
Fisheries officers seized a ship used in a protest against the seal hunt off the west coast of Newfoundland on Saturday to have its captain and first officer arrested, federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn has confirmed. Full CBC.ca story here
MP Todd Russell
April 11, 2008 MP is ready for hunt
Labrador MP Todd Russell says he will take part in the traditional seal hunt off Labrador this spring. Russell says as a Labradorian and an Aboriginal, it's important to show solidarity with the sealers and continue their tradition. He intends to hunt with members of his family near Williams Harbour. Russell says he expects to face opposition to his taking part in the seal hunt. ( Story from VOCM.COM)
COAST GUARD AND SEALERS HARRASSED BY FOREIGN VESSEL IN CANADIAN WATERS. (AFP News / Yahoo) March 31 - 2008
A Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker and a ship steered by animal rights activists opposed to Canada's annual seal hunt collided in the Gulf of St. Lawrence overnight, officials said Monday. Full story here
March 29, 2008 Divers recover bodies after sealing boat capsizes
Divers recovered the bodies of three seal hunters Saturday from a fishing vessel that capsized about 70 kilometres north of Cape Breton. ( CBC Newsstory here)
March 28, 2008
Seal hunters head out to ice in Gulf (The Canadian Press)
About 16 boats carrying roughly 100 hunters headed out Friday from Iles de la Madeleine toward a large herd of seals in the Cabot Strait between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. (Full story here)
March 27, 2008 PAUL WATSON'S SEA SHEPHERD WARNED THEY WILL BE 'PROSECUTED"
Paul Watson's old rusty bucket the "Farley Mowat" is bobbing it's way north to monitor the seal hunt, but the federal Transport Minister, Lawrence Cannon, says the ship doesn'meet internationat l shipping standards. Cannon is threatening Watson with prosecution if he takes his ship into Canadian waters. Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn is concerned about suggestions that they will disregard the warning to stay out of Canadian waters. (Story is here at VOCM.com)
Hearn warns seal protesters that he'll be watching (The Telegram)
Loyola Hearn says sealers won’t be bullied by Paul Watson, leader of the “extremist” Sea Shepherd Society, or other protestors of the annual seal hunt. Hearn issued a statement after reading some of Watson’s comments on the Sea Shepherd website about attending the seal hunt this year despite warnings from the federal Fisheries minister to stay away. Full article here
March 21, 2008 PETA shows off thier violent propaganda hate on MySpace
What can be only described as "chilish video game" tactics PETA has launched a sickening violent hate website aimed at all Canadians given that the title bears the name "Canadians". The Sealers Association urges all Canadians to tell MySpace.com to remove the offending propaganda hatred from their servers as soon as possible. You can use this form to do so. Or you cannotify the German Police regarding this matter because Canadians know they observe very strict anti-hate laws in Germany.
Let the show begin! Cap'n Watson on the way!
While on the subject of propaganda but always good for a laugh after a hard long winter is the news that Capitano Watson of the Sea Sheppard (SS) is on his way up this way from the sunny Caribbean (life is tough eh?) to spend some of that hard earned donor cash on a trip up north to do the same old futile shouting and screaming. Hope Cap'n Watson is aware that there are more stringent rules in place for how close you can get to the hunt this year.
March 19, 2008 Heavy Ice Moving In (VOCM News) Last year was one like no other in recent memory for offshore ice - and this may be a rough one as well. The Coast Guard is watching the situation but says ice has already moved in near the coastline in some areas. A steady northeasterly flow over the past few days continues to push the ice into shore.
Denise Veber, superintendent of ice operations with the Coast Guard, says the difference this year is that most of this ice is from this year's freeze-up instead of older Arctic ice.
She says the ice is already into Bonavista, Trinity and Conception Bays and off St.John's.
March 16, 2008 Pro-sealing rally in St. John's draws enthusiastic crowd (CBC News)
A St. John's rally organized to counter anti-sealing protests being held around the world Saturday attracted more than 200 people. Sealers, fur industry executives and government officials were among those who turned out to support the annual seal hunt, in an event that was described by observers as "enthusiastic." Full article here
Swilers Ball Video (Telegram March 16, 2008)
March 15, 2008 Pro-sealing rally set for St. John's (CBC.ca/ NL)
On a day when many animal rights groups around the world are planning protests against Canada's seal hunt, the sealers themselves will be holding a rally of their own.
The hunters and their supporters will gather Saturday afternoon on George Street in downtown St. John's.
A spokesman for the Fur Institute of Canada, Dion Dakins, said the industry is important, not only financially but culturally. Full article here
March 11, 2008 Newfoundland & Labrador sealers dissatisfied with quota
(CBC News) Sealers in Newfoundland and Labrador say they aren't happy with this year's hunt quota set by the federal government. Read article here
March 10, 2008 Miniscule increase of 5000 seals over previous year's TAC.
Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the total allowable catch (TAC) and other management measures for the 2008 Atlantic seal hunt. Full DFO press release here
"Seals are always checked to see if they're dead.... Sealers want to do the job properly as well."Frank Pinhorn, Director of the Canadian Sealer's Association
Federal Standards; Sealers, activists see little change in suggested method. Allison Hanes, National Post
While the new rules have not been officially posted on the department's Web site, seal hunters are preparing for their implementation when the season opens late this month or early next.
Frank Pinhorn, managing director of the Canadian Sealers Association, said the organization will be touring Newfoundland over the next few weeks, using an instructional video to brief its members on the new expectations.
But he said the new requirements are mostly in line with current sealing practices.
"By and large, most of the procedures are already in place," he said.
.....We've been in this business a long time and we always take pride in doing our work in a right and proper fashion." Full National Post article here
March 10, 2008
New sealing rules in place for more humane hunt
CAMPBELL CLARK (Globe and Mail)
Canada will impose new rules for killing seals to make the annual hunt more humane, just as the European Union is weighing a ban that could devastate the industry.
The federal Fisheries Department will set new standards that call for hunters to sever the arteries of seals after they have been shot or clubbed in order to ensure their deaths are quick and less painful, according to spokesman Phil Jenkins. Full story here
The issue of the seal hunt is showing up in the news again. Must be fund-raising time for international animal rights organizations.
I'm not going to go on and on about whether I think seal hunts should continue or not. For me, that's not the point of my anger. I have little tolerance for liars and swindlers; that's all. Full article here
February 22, 2008 Ottawa may sue anti-seal hunt groups THE CANADIAN PRESS
ST. ANTHONY, Nfld.–The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is considering taking animal rights groups to court for using false information in their campaigns against the seal hunt.
Spokesman Phil Jenkins said today they are looking into the competition act to see if they can reduce the amount of misinformation that is circulating.
Jenkins said false information spread by animal welfare groups is hurting a legal industry and has even been used by a European Union commission in requesting a ban on the hunt.
He pointed to statements by the Humane Society of the United States that claim veterinarians found that in 42 per cent of the cases they studied, the seals had likely been skinned alive.
DFO said that the "independent veterinary report" was commissioned in 2001 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Jenkins said that while the report was recently refuted in a study by the European Food Safety Authority, it wasn't before the IFAW report was quoted in the original written declaration by the European Parliament to the European Commission requesting a ban on seal imports. ______________________________________________
Canada to Take Action on Seal Issue: Hearn
(VOCM News)
Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn says Canada won't stand idle, if the European Commission brings in a ban on importing seal products. The EU will soon make a final decision. Hearn says Canada has been making the case for the seal hunt. Hearn says with the number of seals, someone has to help nature balance itself out.
February 19, 2008 European ambassador says seal hunt recommendaton will be based on fact (The Canadian Press—Fredericton)
The European Commission’s ambassador to Canada says it is extremely difficult to keep emotion out of the debate over the seal hunt. Dorian Prince says the commission will put forward a recommendation based on scientific facts about the seal hunt, not emotion. Telegram article is here
Aldworth interfering in local Nova Scotia seal harvest. "they were in our way when trying to get our boat to shore and when we were trying to haul the seal out of there, or they were up in our faces with cameras," Nova Scotian fisherman
What other industry would allow protestors to interfere with their productivity and livelihood? When will DFO finally ban all protestors from the harvest area during culling activities? The Chronicle Herald.ca Article is here
Nova Scotia "seal population has been exploding" and "is expanding at 12 per cent a year". Canwest News Service Published: Saturday, February 16
A seal hunt in a protected area off the shores of Cape Breton has prompted an angry backlash from animal rights groups.
A dozen sealers have killed almost 2,100 seals from Hay Island, near Main a Dieu, N.S., this week.
The island is a provincially protected wilderness area, but fishermen were given special permission to harvest the seals by the Nova Scotia government.
"This is just a small amount, but at least it's a start to try to bring the grey seal herd in check, which is expanding at 12 per cent a year," said fisherman Robert Courtney. Full article is here
Convincing his 784 colleagues may not be an easy sell. "Oh yes, we're always in a tough fight whenever we enter this arena," the Irish MEP says of the battle to ensure European parliament members get both sides of the seal hunt story.
He admits the bulk of information flowing onto his colleagues' desks is coming from groups opposed to the hunt. And in Brussels, where political lobbying is a standalone industry, Ó Neachtain says providing all the facts is crucial if there is to be any hope of halting the ban plan. Full article is here
Hearn warns animal rights groups that Canada will fight back against a campaign of "carefully crafted misinformation". February 7th, 2008
(DFO Canada)
The Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is again working to make the facts about the seal hunt clear to the world. In a statement meant to reach the international media, Loyola Hearn says it's the time of year again when groups begin distributing misinformation about the harp seal hunt. Hearn says the groups arm themselves with carefully crafted misinformation, including photo opportunities with celebrities and 'whitecoat' seals, young seals that it has been against the law to hunt for more than two decades. He says Canada's commercial seal hunts are humane, sustainable and economically important. Full press release can be read here
Of Seals and votes
January 27, 2008
When it comes to the seal hunt, it's easier for European parliamentarians to vote to block the sale of seal products from this province than it is for them to allow the products to be sold.
And that's why efforts to protect the seal hunt may be nothing more than a rearguard action, able to delay the decision, but not halt it. Read the Telegram article here CSA applauds storeowner November 29 - 2007
Downhome Life, A Newfoundland and Labrador business will not be selling a children's book by a St. John's author Morgan Pumphrey because it has an anti-sealing message with profits going to the International Fund for Animal Welfare. The CSA applauds owner Grant Young for his strong stance.
Activists breached seal hunt rules, officer testifies Defence lawyer plans to rebut evidence October 19, 2007 (CBC News)
The Crown called just one witness in a case against five activists it says disrupted the seal hunt off Canada's east coast in 2006.
Two Canadians, two Americans and a British citizen — all with the Humane Society of the United States and its affiliate, Humane Society International — are charged with violating marine mammal regulations.
In court proceedings on the Magdalen Islands, the Crown called only fisheries officer Jean François Sylvestre, who said he witnessed the observers in two inflatable boats for more than 40 minutes while off Cape Breton.
The Crown is arguing that the activists came dangerously close to one group of hunters participating in the hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. More...
