THE CANADIAN PRESS
SYDNEY, N.S. - The grey seal hunt on Hay Island off Cape Breton has yet to go ahead as area fisherman are still making arrangements with buyers.
Robert Courtney, president of the North of Smokey Fishermen's Association, says he isn't sure when sealers will head out in their boats.
He says the fishermen are hoping to head to the island in the "next day or two."
The federal Fisheries Department says the sealers must give 24 hours notice of their intention to hunt.
Facing depressed markets, sealers killed only 200 seals on the island last year.
Cape Breton sealers preparing for hunt on Hay Island
- Published on Febuary 15th, 2010
- Published on Febuary 20th, 2010
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The Canadian Press
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Comments
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- William
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:32:07
Killing any animal isnt pretty, if we wish to eat meat, fish or poultry it is necessary and has been going on since the dawn of man. The seal harvesters are involved in a legal and historic hunt for meat and fur, plus to-day they are culling the seal population protecting the fish harvest. Ugly at times yes, legal yes, necessary, not convinced either way.
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- Bob the Butcher
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:32:00
Hey Bridget
I guess you are not a fish eater, just a complainer. What I suggest is that they should shoot them from the boat. It could be target shooting. The government could make money on it. Tourists would pay to go on these hunting expeditions and when the seals fall thru the ice, all marine life (lobsters, crabs) would feed on them. -
- Ted Langille
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:59
All you people whinging and crying about these so-called poor seals are beyond pathetic! If they looked like cockroaches, you would not give two cares about them. Funny how you are not coming to us with tears in your eyes about all the poor lobsters we catch and boil alive to feed your fat Upper Canadian guts when you come down our way in summer! You are all clowns in search of a circus. Whoa! I should not have said that as it is a terrible affront to clowns!
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- NT
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:55
Before anyone starts with the stupid comment do you eat meat....blah, blah, blah , let me tell everyone this is an article on the seal hunt NOT slaugtherhouses (FYI, I'm a vegan and so is Bridget Curran so move on with another excuse...)
Paul from ON, I could not have said it better myself. You forgot to mention one more reason for the bloodbath: the IGNORANT belief that seals eat too much fish and that by killing them fish stocks will recover. Even Government scientists have admitted on the DFO's site that this theory has not been scientifically proven and that, since the seal hunt resumed in 1996, the fish stocks have not recovered at all. Everybody knows the seal hunt does not make sense, except for those little men that need to feed their egos by smashing smaller creatures in the head. It is greed, ignorance and stupid pride that is keeping this industry alive. But the markets for seal products are drying up and there is no way but down for this shameful activity. I, for one, cannot wait until we nail the last nail on the sealing industry's coffin. -
- Stupid Flanders
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:53
Perhaps we could send the seal meat to Haiti!?
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- Lee
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:50
Go spread your terrorist propaganda elsewhere PETA lovers! Go sealers!
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- Paul
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:47
Financial security of fishermen? What a joke.
It is a pity the sealers are so financially stupid that they cannot appreciate that Canada spent $30 million last year supporting the hunt that brought in $1 million before sealers expenses like fuel. And the government money did not go to the sealers. It went for expensive trips to europe, pay for government employees, fuel for the coast guard, court costs, lawyers fees and so on.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the sealers would be better off making a deal with Canada to access the $30 million. Of course there will be opposition from those currently enjoying the annual $30 million gravy train.
But perhaps it is just the ability to murder and drape themselves in blood that matters and finances really make no difference to sealers. That is the only thing that seems to make sense. -
- craig
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:47
Bridget, slaughter/hunt same thing. Is it anymore humane to shoot a steel rod through the head of a cow. Do you eat beef or chicken?? Do you value the life of beautiful creatures more then the ugly ones??
Donna, when they start hunting seals in Ontario you can give your opinion, same goes for Hollywood. -
- Pro Seal Hunt
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:45
Central Canada once again complaining about something that does not affect them directly. Unlike us east coasters who actually understand the need for the hunt as the gray seal eats 11lbs of fish per day which is 4015lbs per year, per seal. That is a lot of fish that people in the fishing business loose out on.
Why don't you just go and produce some more smog and harmful emissions and keep global warming going! Good job! -
- Bill
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:42
Bridget,don't forget to cook that steak all the way through,wouldn't want to see any juices running down that cheek.i have two seal skin jackets and two seal pair of seal skin gloves,they do serve the purpose quite well.
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- Donna
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:39
Perhaps, these men, who hunt seals, are simply morally depraved individuals who represent the monsters in society.
They appear to be unstoppable and untreatable predators whose violence is planned, purposeful and emotionless.
They are obviously unable to feel sorry for others or put themselves in another's place.
It is known, that where there is a lack of love, there is also a lack of empathy. It seems that in these men, normal and natural twinges of sympathy are suppressed.
It is difficult to imagine what motivates these men who hunt seals. Control and dominance possibly - since their life history will no doubt show no long-standing bonds with others nor much rhyme to their reason (other than the planning of violence and bloodlust).
Bloodlust is a major motive for the cruelty seen in the commercial seal slaughter.
It does seem that the pleasure, these men, who hunt seals, take in the misfortune of these unfortunate young animals, is unquenchable. -
- Pro Seal Hunt
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:37
Why was I not surprised that the first comment was anti-seal hunt. These people obviously don't think about the financial security of these fishermen.
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- Kevin
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:36
Swing/shoot away
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- Bridget
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:34
This is not a hunt. This is a slaughter of defenceless seal pups. The grey seals on Hay island will be rounded up together - including nursing mothers and whitecoats - and the moulted pups aged just a few weeks old will be beaten to death with wooden bats and sliced open with boxcutters and knives mere inches from each other. How is this a hunt ?
Hay Island is a protected wilderness area and belongs to ALL Nova Scotians, not a handful of sealers with a bloodlust. Commercial industry has no place on protected land and nature reserves. Today it's commercial seal hunting; tomorrow it could be strip-mining or clear-cutting depending on how much money changes hands and how many votes can be bought.
Dingwall sealers Robert Courtney and Pat Briand should be ashamed of themselves for the terror and agony they inflict on infant animals that are unable to protect themselves or fight back. Darrell Dexter's NDP government should be ashamed of itself for betraying the seals and the people of Nova Scotia simply to appease the sealing and fishing industry to secure their votes.
