The International Herald Tribune is reporting that Russia has pledged to ban the killing of all baby harp seals less than one year old.

Read the article here: http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/27/europe/27seals.php

The International Fund for Animal Welfare's (IFAW) Director in Russia, Masha Vorontsova was quoted in the article as saying ""It should not be confused with an actual ban, remember 35,000 baby seals will still be killed in the White Sea next month unless Russian ministers act swiftly to complete their pledge."

Here, also is a link to IFAW's press release.

How will this move by Putin's government affect the upcoming deliberations of the European Union on their potential seal product ban?

Stay tuned...

Filed by J.C. Bouvier, IFAW Hunt Watch team member, en route to the Isle de Madalein in the Gulf of St. Lawrence...follow his travels and experiences on a seal pup watch this weekend, and IFAW actions in general on Twitter. http://www.twitter.com/action4ifaw

FROM: Cape Breton Post

DATE: Mon 23 Feb 2009

Letter to the Editor: Cozy cabal at work promoting seal industry

The Feb. 19 article, Fur Institute Helps with Seal Harvest, reveals a dizzying level of collusion existing among the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Fur Institute of Canada, certain "independent" veterinarians, and the seal processing industry. You report that the fur institute stepped in to assist Cape Breton sealers by lining up a buyer, NuTan Furs, to purchase 200 pelts.

It is, of course, no coincidence that the director of sales of NuTan furs, Dion Dakins, is also a vice-chairman on the board of the FIC.

Similarly, the lead veterinarian conducting the undescribed "research," Pierre-Yves Daoust, is also a director of the FIC.

The FIC has received funds from DFO for initiatives relating to the seal hunt. Similarly, the "research" on Hay Island is being funded by DFO.

Dr. Daoust was also a member of the so-called Independent Veterinarians' Working Group whose report is often misrepresented by DFO to support its claims that Canada's commercial seal hunt is humane.

In retrospect, it is clear that such collusion has been going on for some time. As part of its marine mammal regulatory review process last year, for example, DFO reportedly created a working group to provide advice on improving animal welfare in the seal hunt. This group included both the fur institute's director, Dr. Daoust, a pathologist, and the pelt processor executive, Mr. Dakins.

In addition to the insight that DFO is taking animal welfare advice from a representative of a seal processing company - an industry that doesn't even deal with whole animals, much less live ones - your article confirms that the composition of this working group had less to do with animal welfare expertise than with membership in a cabal dedicated to propping up a dying sealing industry.

Sheryl Fink is a senior researcher and projects specialist, with the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

This post was filed earlier today by the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Senior Research Scientist Sheryl Fink.

Dashing earlier reports that the fates of the Hay Island grey seal pups might be spared, the slaughter went ahead this week with 200 seals reportedly killed so far. Observers from the Atlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition were unable to observe the "harvest", which is conducted by smashing the skulls of defenseless baby seals with wooden bats.

Yesterday "NuTan" furs in Catalina, NF, was identified as the buyer of the pelts, which were described as "samples". "Samples" of course, because there are no markets for seal fur.

Today it was reported that, in fact, The Fur Institute of Canada (FIC) - which receives federal government funding from DFO - was responsible for bailing out the slaughter by lining up NuTan furs as the buyer. It is surely no coincidence that Dion Dakins, sales director of NuTan furs, is also a Vice-Chairman on the Board of Directors of the Fur Institute of Canada.

In the same artcle the FIC claims the grey seals were killed for "research" by Dr Pierre Yves Daoust, who - surprise, surprise - is also a Director of the Fur Institute of Canada. What type of "research" is being conducted is not clear. Dr. Daoust is also a member of the "Independent Veterinarians' Working Group" often promoted by DFO. So much for independence!

Yesterday a beacon of hope appeared for the grey seal pups born last month, as various news articles  reported that  the Hay Island grey seal slaughter might not occur after all. Not only have sealers been faced with poor weather, but the worldwide recession has reduced demand for seal pelts. Seal fur is used to make expensive luxury garments such as fur coats, vests, and purses - unnecessary items at any time, and not something that people tend to buy during tough economic conditions. In addition, it was stated that one of the fur processors was having "equipment problems" at the plant which prevented them from buying any pelts at this time.
 
While this news is encouraging, we need to continue to pressure the Canadian government to bring and end to this slaughter.  The commercial hunting of seals is unwanted, unnecessary, inhumane and wasteful.  With fur markets clearly in decline, there is no better time for the Canadian government to stop the annual killing of seal pups, and work instead to help find sustainable alternatives for sealers.

The slaughter of 2,200 newly weaned grey seal pups (Halichoerus grypus) opened this week on Hay Island, off Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.

When the DFO authorized the Hay Island slaughter for the first time last year, it was described as a “one-time event”. Not true.

This year, the slaughter opens about a week earlier, and will be allowed until March 14th. About 20-25 sealers are expected to participate. Newly weaned grey seal pups (called “moulters,”) about 8 weeks old, will be herded into groups and clubbed to death with crude wooden bats.

Last year, DFO set the Hay Island grey seal quota at 2,500, in effect authorizing the killing of every seal pup born on the island. By the time it was over, 1,200 seals were killed.

Hay Island is part of the Scatarie Island Protected Wilderness Area, but the Nova Scotia Department of Environment has agreed to give sealers access to the island.

The Nova Scotia fisheries department claims the seals need to be killed to protect fish stocks, a statement that is not supported by any scientific evidence.

The Nova Scotia fishing industry has demanded that the grey seal herd be reduced by 50% over 5 years – a move that that, if “successful” would immediately put the grey seal on a number of endangered species lists!

Hay Island is not the only area where grey seals are hunted, with other regions to be opened for slaughter later this month. The commercial slaughter of harp seal pups is expected to begin late March.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Please send an email to Canadian politicians, letting them know that you oppose the commercial slaughter of ALL seals off Canada’s East coast. Remind them that there is no scientific evidence that culling seals will benefit fish stocks.

Please write to Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea, copied to Prime Minister Stephen Harper

.