E.U. Ban on Seal Products Holds Up in Court, Canada Plans Its Next Move

Killing seals is big business in Canada, but a recent ban on seal products in Europe threatens to take a chunk out of their profits.

Naturally, Canada wasn't too happy about the new ban, claiming it was "unfair." Greenland, also in the seal-murdering business, agreed. Even though indigenous subsistence hunting was exempt from the ban, the Inuits weren't too happy about it either. They said the ban would put a significant financial strain upon them and even increase the risk of youth suicide.

So, the Fur Institute of Canada and a number of allies, including Inuit groups, decided to go to court. When the ban took effect on August 20, 2010, the groups involved in the lawsuit were exempt while the legal proceedings were untangled.

The plaintiffs used the argument that the seal hunt is Inuit tradition and part of their heritage. But wait, aren't the Inuits exempt? A bit confusing, yes? The judge didn't see a clear argument either.

Judge Marc Jaeger formally rejected their claim, stating that "the plaintiffs presented no concrete indication that would justify their fears in this regard."

His decision will save thousands of seals — primarily baby seals — from being clubbed, shot or beaten with a hakapik.

In court, plaintiffs further argued that banning the products "harvested" from commercial hunting would cause the market to shrink and therefore hurt them. The wise judge still refused to lift the ban.

The decision comes as victory for groups like the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which has been fighting the seal hunt for four decades. "This ban is about the right of Europeans to say 'No' to products that stem from cruel and unnecessary hunts," said Lesley O'Donnell, IFAW's E.U. Director.

Canada, along with Norway, will now take the issue to the World Trade Organization, continuing to claim that the ban is discriminatory, although it's suspected that the Canadian government and fur industry are hiding behind the argument of Inuit tradition to protect the interests of commercial hunters. Groups like IFAW will follow them to continue fighting for the seals.

Paul Watson, founder and Captain of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, defends the decision of the E.U. court, stating that "the people of Europe have a right to legislate against the destruction of the seals and to oppose the horrific cruelty of this annual massacre of innocent and biologically valuable creatures." I couldn't agree more.

The target for sealers is primarily the harp seal. Not only do they have to fight to survive human hunters, but they also face habitat loss, pollution and overfishing. After a seal is slaughtered and skinned, its killer inspects the pelt. If it's not satisfactory, it's tossed aside like an old rag.

Commercial hunters murder about 325,000 juvenile seals per year. Inuit and indigenous groups kill roughly 10,000 adult seals per year. The time to stop the exploitation of the harp seal is long overdue.

With the new ban in place, Canadian sealers will lose a quarter of their profits. Canada intends to push the seal trade in Asian countries, where opposition is low.

Europe has joined with other countries to say "enough" to the brutality of the seal hunt. As more countries decide against the cruel hunts, profits will continue to be sliced. With no profit margin, the hunts will end.

Urge Canada to stop slaughtering seals. Sign the petition now.

Photo credit: .iieee.