Coalition of animal protection groups calls for Irish support for seal import ban
6 October 2008
A coalition of Irish and international animal welfare groups has called
upon the Irish Government and Irish MEPs to support a complete ban on all
seal products.
A letter urging support for a complete ban was delivered to the Irish
government by hand.
Respect for Animals together with the ISPCA, the Irish Seal Sanctuary
and Humane Society International have joined together to call for support
for a ban which is currently being discussed in the European Union.
The groups released film from the 2008 harp and grey seal hunt in Canada
taken by Humane Society International.
The film, to be shown in Ireland for the first time, illustrates clearly
why only a complete ban on the trade in products from such cruel hunts is
acceptable.
Mark Glover Director of Respect for Animals and Humane Society International
UK said today: “The people of Europe have all made their wishes abundantly
clear - they want all seal imports into the EU to be banned. We need a comprehensive
ban with no loopholes and we very much hope the Irish government will give
its full support.
“I have seen the seal hunt with my own eyes. It is inherently cruel
and no amount of regulation can change that. A seal product import ban is
overdue and, until it is brought in, European politicians have the blood
of the seals on their hands.”
The EU proposal to ban the trade in all seal products currently contains
derogations that would allow the trade in products from hunts considered
to be humane.
Mark Beazley CEO of the ISPCA said: “The ISPCA and other Irish animal
welfare organisations welcome the European Commission’s initiative to address
the welfare of seals and we are hopeful that the Irish Government, and in
particular Minister John Gormley, will be supportive of it. We have remaining
concerns that the proposal, as it is worded: 1) will be unenforceable due
to the lack of definitions, unverifiable conditions of the seal hunts and
monitoring obstacles, 2) will not stop the commercial trade in the EU in
inhumanely obtained seal products nor meet the animal welfare concerns of
EU citizens,
3) will not provide harmonisation at the strictest level of
existing national legislations which the proposal aims for since existing
national bans (Belgium, NL, Slovenia) are complete trade bans without derogation.”
Brendan Price, Director of the Irish Seal Sanctuary said: “For over
a decade now the Irish Seal Sanctuary has met annually with the Canadian
Embassy representing the concerns of Irish people about the seal hunt together
with Canadian anti-seal hunt groups. Aware of the Ireland/Newfoundland partnership,
ISS seeks to find economic alternatives for the fishing communities of the
Maritimes. ISS is seeking support from Minister John Gormley and national
politicians - who are currently out of step with or MEPs. We want to work
constructively with our Canadian friends to end this hunt and bring some
peace and prosperity to the Maritimes.”
In 2007, Ireland imported more than 3,000 sealskins.