This morning we awoke to some somber news. According to media reports, a vessel from the Magdalen Islands capsized 70 kilometers north of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia last night while under tow by the Canadian coast guard. Apparently six men were on board; two were rescued, three have died and one is still missing. This morning, the IFAW team of observers here in Charlottetown, PEI offered our support and aircraft resources to assist with search and rescue efforts. The coast guard respectfully declined. All of us here with IFAW extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the sealers who were lost at sea last night.

As far as we are aware, there have been no plans on behalf of Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans to suspend the hunt.

Comments

[tim]

Chris 'you are right maybe it's time for these hunters to find some other line of work..

[rachael williams]

what goes around comes around
maybe god has had enough
if there is one

[sarah]

people that can do what they do to seals should not be on the earth. they got what they deserve as far as i'm concerned. i for one am glad there are a few less evil people and know i'm not the only one.

[a proud newfoundlander]

unreal what some ppl would say a lot of a human life makes for an animal im truly discussed with the comment what goes around comes around or those poor men got what they deserve.no matter what they did for a living it cant justify the comments or how those mens family will cope.I don't agree with some of the ways the hunt is carried out but none of it justifies loss of human life.

[Ian Thomas]

In response to The Proud Newfoundlander
Why are you discussed with what other people write? Freedom of speech is what we all have. As an ex sailor (Royal Navy) any life lost at sea is a sad loss. But these sealers took on the job, knew the risks, and paid the ultimate price. LIFE goes on, but not for some of the seals. These men knew what they were doing the seals didn't know what was coming.

[elaine]

well said Ian I totally agree with your comments. I feel sympathy for the familys but not for the dead sealers, from what I have witnessed they all seem to love the barbaric trade, death and destruction comes naturally to them!!!! Maybe the canadian government should listen to the rest of the world and end this cruel slaughter in the name of vanity, these sealers would still be alive right now if it was banned!!!!!

[Trish]

I do feel some sympathy for the dead seal hunters, as it's a pretty nasty way to die. But I too am absolutely appalled at this seal hunt and can barely watch the news. I stopped buying Canadian products a few years ago and refuse to visit Canada until they stop this practice. It won't make a difference if one person does this but if more join in then maybe the Canadian Government will sit up and take note!

[tim]

I bet the sealers are even in morning over the deaths , they will be out skinning seals tomorrow , it's about greed and dis respect for nature , always remember they where the ones that over fished the grand Banks of the codfish(something they blame the seals for) The Fisherman rape the sea of anything that swims