Seal hunting has long been known as a cruel practice by animal rights activists and conservationists. Yesterday, the European Union took steps to ban seal products including “fur skins, organs, meat, oil and blubber.” An exception is made for seal products originating from indigenous people and “marketed on a not-for-profit basis”. The Environment News Service explains:
In its announcement of the new regulation, the Council said that several EU member states have adopted or intend to adopt legislation prohibiting trade in seal products, and the regulation “will harmonize rules concerning the marketing of seal products so as to avoid fragmentation and distortion of the internal market.”
Denmark, Romania, and Austria abstained from voting on the seal ban. Seal hunting takes place in five countries (Canada, Norway, Russia, Namibia, and Greenland). Canada believes the EU seal ban violates World Trade Organization regulations. The Canberra Times reports:
International Trade Minister Stockwell Day said Canada was very disappointed with the ruling.
”We believe strongly this violates the World Trade Organisation guidelines,” he said, insisting the hunt was ”humanitarian, scientific and follows environmental rules of sustainability”…But Inuit communities called the ban ”an abomination”, saying it ”directly attacks cultures, communities, and livelihoods that represent a basic means of living for many here in Canada”.
President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the national leader of Inuit in Canada, Mary Simon, said the ban was based on ”groundless accusations influenced by animal rights propaganda campaigns”.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, Canada’s seal hunt is the “largest commercial hunt of marine mammals on the planet.” Seals are killed by “wooden clubs, hakapiks (large ice-pick-like clubs) and guns”. 42 percent of the seals are skinned while still alive and conscious.
Since when are inuit traditions enforced by the World Trade Organization? These traditions are protected as long as they are for subsistence. These practices cannot support mass commercial export. I’m hope the EU stands up to this greed because these indigenous practices are being played for the almighty dollar.