The World Trade Organization has ruled today that the w010 European Union ban on Canadian seal products could stand.
The WTO said that while the ban broke a particular trade regulation by treating seals differently than other products, it ruled that the EU could ban certain products on ethical grounds in conjunction with a “public morals” clause..
Canadians involved in sealing, including many small communities along the Gulf of St Lawrence, Newfoundland and Labrador, and elsewhere along the east coast, and Inuit and aboriginal groups, were angered by the decision.
Innu and Inuit representatives said they had been discussion the ban with the EU and WTO, and feel the talks were completely ignored.
The Canadian government has said it will use the allowable 60-day period following the decision to appeal.
“Canada remains steadfast in its position that the seal harvest is a humane, sustainable and well-regulated activity. Any views to the contrary are based on myths and misinformation, and the panel’s findings should be of concern to all WTO members,” said the statement, issued by International Trade Minister Ed Fast,
Terry Audla, is president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami representing about 55,000 Canadian Inuit, Audla says “They’re basing it on public morals and, when you do that, then you’re in danger of all the other industries being banned in the same way. I mean, who’s to say what’s more cruel? Industrialized agriculture? The poultry, pork and beef industry? Who draws the line?”
Canadian quotas for Harp seals was 400,000. Some 91,000 were killed in spring of this year, up from 69,000 in 2012
The quota for Hooded seals has remained at 8,200, unchanged from 2007. The total of Hooded seals taken in 2011 was zero, in 2012, only one. The Grey seal quota in 2012 was 60,000, but less than ten were hunted.
Scientists say that because these seals need a strong ice pack to give birth, that climate change is having a negative effect on birthrates and newborn mortality.
Other large seal hunts are in Norway and Namibia. The latter attracts little attention as its not easily accessible to media and cameras. There, the annual hunting quota has been set at 85,000 pups and 7,000 adult bulls. However, according to the Humane Society International website, the Namibian authorities are notoriously secretive about the hunt and have consistently discouraged independent observation and recording, so no one really knows exactly how many seals are killed each year for their skins which are marketed to international fur markets, and for their organs, which are traded as aphrodisiacs.
YOUTUBE video difference between Canada- Namibia seal harvest
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