AR-News: (CA) Seal Hunt - Mon. & Tues. press

[Barry Kent MacKay]

Both articles can be accessed at:

http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar%2FUtilit
ies%2FJavaSearch&searchstring=seal+hunt

Apr. 13, 2004. 01:00 AM


Seal hunt limit hits 350,000
Harvest size renews debate, interest But market strong due to fashion 
demands

ST. JOHN'S, Nfld.-Thousands of seal hunters in Atlantic Canada made their 
way to the ice floes yesterday, the first day of an annual hunt that 
continues to attract heated debate and worldwide attention.

Under a federal management plan announced more than a year ago, the 12,000 
licensed seal hunters in Atlantic Canada - almost all of them in 
Newfoundland - can harvest up to 975,000 harp seals between 2003 and 2005.

Some 289,000 harp seals were taken last season, when the limit stood at 
350,000. The limit this season is also 350,000.

The last time Canadian hunters killed more than 350,000 harp seals was in 
1956, a fact that has prompted animal rights activists to declare that this 
year's hunt could be the largest in almost 50 years.

Recent stories in The New York Times and by the Atlanta-based, all-news 
cable channel CNN have sparked renewed interest in the hunt.

But the revival of the seal hunt, which was almost shut down by public 
protests and import bans in the 1970s, is not a recent phenomenon.

Indeed, the market and the hunt for harp seal pelts has been on the upswing 
since 1996, with hunters landing about 240,000 seals annually between 1996 
and 1999.

Reduced prices for pelts, caused by a glut of product, kept many sealers at 
home in 2000.

But the market has rebounded since then with demand remaining strong from 
Europe's fashion houses.

In 2002, pelts fetched a record $75 apiece and are expected to earn about 
$50 this season. The industry is now worth about $15 million annually in 
Canada.

Three decades ago, images of white-coated baby seals being clubbed to death 
generated outrage around the globe.

Celebrities rallied behind the animal rights movement and the centuries-old 
industry seemed doomed.

Seal fur was banned in the United States in 1972. The European Union 
followed suit with a partial ban in 1983.

The federal government banned the killing of young harp seals - the ones 
with the white fur - in 1987.

Throughout the 1990s, the sealing industry went to great lengths to 
encourage humane hunting practices and professional conduct.

Federal scientists estimate there are 5.2 million harp seals off the East 
Coast today, compared with 1.8 million in 1970.

Animal rights groups say too many seals are skinned alive by hunters who 
don't take the time to ensure they are dead first.

>From 1999 to 2002, fisheries officials laid 71 charges for violating the 
regulations. There were 45 convictions.

Canadian Press

_______________


Apr. 12, 2004. 06:37 PM

Media focus on Atlantic Canada as seal hunt begins


CANADIAN PRESS

ST. JOHN'S - Thousands of seal hunters in Atlantic Canada made their way 
onto the ice floes today, the first day of an annual hunt that continues to 
attract heated debate and worldwide attention.
Under a federal management plan announced more than a year ago, the 12,000 
licensed seal hunters in Atlantic Canada - almost all of them in 
Newfoundland - can harvest up to 975,000 harp seals between 2003 and 2005.

Some 289,000 harp seals were taken last season when the limit stood at 
350,000. The limit this season is also 350,000.

The last time Canadian hunters killed more than 350,000 harp seals was in 
1956, a fact that has prompted animal rights activists to declare that this 
year's hunt could be the largest in almost 50 years.

Recent stories in the New York Times and by the Atlanta-based all-news cable

channel CNN have sparked renewed interest in the hunt.

But the revival of the seal hunt, which was almost shut down by public 
protests and import bans in the 1970s, is not a recent phenomenon.

Indeed, the market and the hunt for harp seal pelts has been on the upswing 
since 1996, with hunters landing about 240,000 seals annually between 1996 
and 1999.

Reduced prices for pelts, caused by a glut of product, kept many sealers at 
home in 2000. But the market has rebounded since then with demand remaining 
strong from Europe's fashion houses.

In 2002, when pelts fetched a record $75 apiece, 312,000 harp seals were 
slaughtered - the largest harvest since 1967.

This season, top-quality pelts are worth up to $60.

In recent years, the value of the industry has been pegged at about 
$15-million annually in Canada.

Three decades ago, images of white-coated baby seals being clubbed to death 
generated outrage around the globe. Celebrities rallied behind the animal 
rights movement and the centuries-old industry seemed doomed.

Seal fur was banned in the United States in 1972. The European Union 
followed suit with a partial ban in 1983.

The federal government banned the killing of young harp seals - the ones 
with the white fur - in 1987.

Throughout the 1990s, the sealing industry went to great lengths to 
encourage humane hunting practices and professional conduct.

Federal scientists estimate there are 5.2 million harp seals off the East 
Coast today, compared with 1.8 million in 1970.

Animal rights groups say too many seals are skinned alive by hunters who 
don't take the time to ensure they are dead first.

>From 1999 to 2002, fisheries officials laid 71 charges for violating the 
regulations. There were 45 convictions.

________________

Barry Kent MacKay
Canadian Representative
Animal Protection Institute 
www.api4animals.org