Canada's East Coast seal hunt opens quietly in Gulf of St. Lawrence
2 hours, 10 minutes ago
CHARLOTTETOWN (CP) - The East Coast seal hunt quietly opened Monday in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, where ice conditions were described as the worst seen in a decade.
Fisheries officials said they expect only a few boats from the Maritime provinces will take part in the first phase of the centuries-old hunt. About 40 boats from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are eligible, with most of the early hunting focused on the Cape Breton coast, said Fisheries Department spokesman Roger Simon.
"There are a few seals scattered from Sydney towards Canso but they are very sparse and the ice is broken and deteriorated," he said.
"What seals were in that area may be swimming back north and we know a higher proportion drowned this year."
One fisheries observer said only two boats went out Monday.
Newborn seals cannot swim in the first weeks of life and need solid ice to survive.
The total quota for this year's seal hunt is 270,000 animals. That's 65,000 fewer seals than last year, a change that was made mainly because of the ice conditions.
Simon said the largest concentration of Gulf seals is in the more northerly Strait of Belle Isle, between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
That area of the northern Gulf will be open to hunters beginning Wednesday.
Animal welfare groups are condemning the Canadian government's decision to allow a hunt in the southern Gulf where poor ice conditions have caused unusually high pup mortality.
"I've witnessed the hunt for nine years, and I've never seen ice conditions this bad," said Rebecca Aldworth of the Humane Society of the United States, a leading opponent of the annual slaughter.
"Even Canadian government scientists are estimating up to 100 per cent of the pups born in the southern Gulf died because of the lack of ice. It is reprehensible that the Canadian government would allow sealers to kill the few surviving pups."
Most of the seals will be taken in a subsequent hunt off northern Newfoundland in an area called the Front. An opening date has yet to be announced for the start of that hunt.
Sheryl Fink of the International Fund for Animal Welfare flew over the southern Gulf on Monday and saw only one sealing boat.
"The hunters were shooting seals," Fink said.
"It's so depressing. There are so few seals out there and these hunters are cleaning out what's left."
Aldworth and Fink are angry that Canadian fisheries officials denied observer permits for the first two days of the commercial Gulf hunt.
"The commercial seal hunt occurs in public space and observation is a right guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, not a privilege to be arbitrarily granted by a government department," Aldworth said.
Phil Jenkins said the Fisheries Department is trying to strike a balance.
He said with so few sealing vessels in the southern Gulf and very little sealing activity, the department decided it would not be a good idea to hand out observer permits.
He said the decision to allow or prohibit observers is covered by marine mammal regulations. He said the permits are decided on a case-by-case basis.
Fuck, sometimes I hate being Canadian. Fuck you, Fisheries Department!
Of course, I feel a bit hypocritical for not donating when they asked. But then again, it's not like I had the money to donate in the first place.
So Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has come to Powell River. I'm going to go see it tonight with my friend (can you believe I actually have friends up here? I'm like, WTF, mate?). I wanted to find a purple head band to go a cross my eyes, but... no money. So I'll just have to make do with wearing my TMNT hoodie.
I'm probably going to see it tomorrow night as well. We decided on tonight originally because I have Spoken Word on Tuesdays. Well, I just got a phone call from the place where I host spoken word saying it won't be going on for 3 weeks because they can't get anyone to volunteer shift for Tuesday nights.
This is the kind of resturant-ish place it is. People volunteer shifts.
IE nothing gets done. Nothing important to other people, at any rate.
I must admit I'm a little ticked. No, make that a lot.
First they make it not happen for 2 Tuesdays (tomorrow was supposed to be our first time back in 2 weeks), and now this. I'm thinking we should move locations.
But whatever. It's my mom's thing, not mine, and honestly the fact that it's off frees me up for school work or a social life. Or finishing those library books.
On that note, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Heinlein) is really quite good. So is Lady of Avalon, by the late Marion Zimmer Bradley.
My brother was telling me that he wanted to see a book out on Boudicca, the Iceni Queen who led one of the most successful revolts against the Romans. Her daughters were kidnapped, and she killed them with an arrow thru each neck so they wouldn't have to face being raped by Roman soldiers. I also would love to see a book out on Boudicca. She's one of my s/heroes.
There is more I have to say, but it's almost 2pm and I must a) shower b) walk the dog c) go to school d) go to my house and work on stuff. I don't really have enough time, as I said I'd be at my house by 3. Eh. I'll be late. Or something.
Ave atque vale
Jag
