Death Knell for the Canadian Seal Hunt: Russia Bans Trade in Harp Seal Pelts
(firmenpresse) - TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 12/19/11 -- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is applauding the news that Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the Russian Federation have Canada claims that Russia is one of the last two major remaining markets for Canadian seal products, reportedly receiving up to 90% of Canada's exports of seal pelts. The IFAW says this is a major victory in the campaign to end commercial sealing, and that it should send a strong message that this is an industry whose time has passed.
"Russia ended its own hunt of harp seals in 2009, after listening to the concerns of the people who felt it was a cruel and unnecessary slaughter," said Masha Vorontsova, Director of IFAW Russia. "We are extremely pleased that the Russian government has taken the next logical step by banning all trade in harp seal pelts from other countries as well."
The Russian market has long been hailed by the Canadian government as the main market for Canadian seal products. With the European Union ban on non-Inuit seal products still in place, and a long-promised seal meat deal with China still unsigned, IFAW says the Canadian government and the sealing industry should acknowledge the reality that markets for seal products are disappearing.
"The writing is on the wall" said Sheryl Fink, Director of IFAW's Seal Program. "The Canadian government knows seal products are not wanted, and has had ample time to transition sealers out of this industry with compensation. Instead they have done nothing but dispute the rights of other nations by challenging seal product bans at the WTO. As Russia follows in the steps of the EU and closes its doors to seal products, it's time to say enough is enough and stop the seal slaughter once and for all."
"Canada will continue to be shunned by the international community as long as we persist with the outdated, inhumane, and unnecessary slaughter of seal pups," continued Fink.
IFAW has been campaigning to end commercial seal hunting for more than 40 years, and our work helped bring about the end of the Russian seal hunt in 2009. At the time, Russia's Minister of Natural Resources Yury Trutnev said, "The bloody seal slaughter, the killing of the defenseless animals, which can't be even called a 'hunt,' is now prohibited in Russia as it is in most developed countries. It is a serious step towards the conservation of biodiversity in Russia." Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also called seal hunting a "bloody industry" and something that "should have been banned years ago."
Timeline of shrinking markets
About IFAW
IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) was established in 1969 and its founding campaign was in opposition to Canada's commercial seal hunt. IFAW has more than 40 years of experience raising awareness, documenting and opposing the cruel commercial hunts for seals in Canada and around the world.
For more information on the campaign read IFAW's , visit our and follow us on , and or to take action to protect seals visit IFAW's .
Notes to editors:
The trade document listing the ban can be found here:
Contacts:
Sheryl Fink, Director, Seal Program
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
+1 519 767 1948 x22
Mobile: +1 519 830 0046
Twitter: (at)SherylFink (at)IFAWCanada
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Datum: 19.12.2011 - 06:00 Uhr
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