Updated: Thu Jul. 24 2008 9:48:18 AM

CTV.ca News Staff

Europe is not against commercial seal hunting in Canada but only wants to make sure the animals are killed humanely, the European Commission's ambassador to Canada said Thursday.

On Wednesday, the European Union proposed a ban on seal products from countries that "practice cruel hunting methods."

Dorian Prince told CTV's Canada AM on Thursday he believed Canada and the EU could find a resolution if the legislation is passed.

The ambassador said the goal of the legislation is not to ban legitimate commercial hunts in places such as Newfoundland and Iles-de-la-Madeleine.

"All we want to do is agree to proper management, proper methods, proper supervision so that we have the guarantee that no animal suffers unduly," said Prince.

He said the EU is perfectly happy to sit down with Canadian officials "to agree on correct methods" on how seal are hunted.

The legislation was based on a study by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), an independent agency, said Prince.

"This body has produced a list of methods that we consider to be completely unacceptable and cruel and it also lays down methods that we consider to be acceptable," he said.

Methods such as trapping, suffocating or drowning seals are unacceptable, said Prince.

The EU also wants to curb the practice of killing a bunch of seals all at once.

"The real problem is while you're dealing with animal one, animals 18, 19 and 20 may be suffering excruciating pain," said Prince.

On CTV's Canada AM Thursday, Canadian fisheries ambassador Loyola Sullivan said the EU is acting unjustly and contravening their World Trade Organization obligations.

"Is every other wild animal under the same scrutiny?" asked Sullivan.

"They're bowing down to emotion and it's not based on fact... we'll continue to press on this issue."

On Wednesday, Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn issued a stern reproach to European lawmakers.

He vowed to stand up for Canadian hunters and warning the EU members they were on thin ice.

The 27-members of the EU and the European Parliament would have to back the proposal for it to take effect.

Hearn said the government, provinces and stakeholders will be reviewing in coming months how the proposed regulations, and any possible exemptions, would affect Canada.

Comments are now closed for this story

DD
They want to make sure we use "humane hunting practices?"

Why don't they look into their own back yards first and check out how fois gras and veal are produced...or drop down to Spain and watch a bullfight...where the animal is repeatedly speared and taunted before it is killed (I've seen one).

The hunt has been proven both humane and sustainable by objective studies done by vets. The club is rarely used now (only off the Magdalen Islands where there are too many hunters to make the use of firearms safe). The vast majority (>90%) now shoot the seals (which is arguably less humane than clubbing, which itself ensures an instant death given the thin skull of the seal). Unfortunately, seeing the animal killed tugs on heartstrings and people make irrational complaints based on what they see on tv and not what they know.

I suggest anyone who finds sealing "cruel" go visit a local slaughterhouse...you know...the place where cameras are NOT permitted to film the gruesome deaths of cows, chickens and pigs. Where the floor isn't painted white to show up the blood. Watch as a chicken is hung upsidedown on a conveyor and has its throat slit then left to die as the conveyor moves along.

Is that not cruel?

What about the goose or duck that is nailed to the floor so that its liver fattens or the calf left in a cage that it can't turn around in?

You can't pick and choose. If one is cruel, they ALL are cruel. As far as I am concerned, only strict vegans have any cause to call the hunt cruel.

All others are hypocrites.

Jim F
Any EU ban should immediately be retaliated with by a Canadian ban on a major European export here, such as wine from France, Spain, and Italy. If they're willing to damage our economy, jobs, way of life, and traditions, we can easily do the same to them.

Chris
So basically, the EU wants to tell us how to conduct our own business? And if we don't do it their way, then they'll ban our products?

They aren't against commercial seal hunting...only when more than 1 seal is killed at a time. Wow...that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Gwendo
I find Seal hunt totally unhumane and am very proud of EU for standing up on behalf of Canadian seals. Isn't there enough other animals being slaughtered in Canada that we need to add another specie to the list.

If seal hunters are not educated enought to find work in another field that is more humane and safe, there is enough work out Ouest for them.

I know other animals might be treated even worse in Canada but they need to start somewhere!

Thanks EU!!!!!

J.C.
I don't believe you can compare a slaughter house where animals are killed for food to the seal hunt where animals are killed for their fur.
Those that kill the seals for food are not the same as those that kill for fur.In my opinion the killing of any animal other than necessary for food is cruel!! The eskimo and inuits etc. kill for food and necessity but the commercial kill them for their fur, which is not necessary.

Martha
No one is obligated to buy their veal or fois gras, and can impose a ban if they want to. The same way, the bloody seal hunt in Canada is unnacceptable to any civilized society, which can impose a ban a well. What part of this concept one cannot understand?

John in London
Anyone who is against the seal hunt is ignorant. Seals are killed much more humanely than any other animal humans eat (pig, cow, chicken).

Is anyone else sick of left wing socialests hijacking the political process? I have heard enough from the radical left on everything from global warming to seals to wanting to raise taxes.

Enough is enough. Canada's middle classis getting very sick of it, very fast.

Karl
DD,

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Ian from N.B.
Very true words DD, however I do think that they gas chickens en masse with Carbon Monoxide these days.

dawn
howabout this? i eat vegetarian, and am vegan about everything else in my life. i do not support the meat industry's slaughterhouses. any country that's gonna support the mass producing,wearhousing,torture,and slaughter of any group of beings sucks. yes, i said the usa sucks, because they do on most things. now if other countries want to directly support a cruel mass slaughter of seals, then guess what? they suck too. so to whoever just left the comment about "go see how fois gras is produced", i've already seen it and much more, it's called peta2.com. for those of you brave enough to watch it.and to all those countries, cooperations, and individuals that wanna directly support the mass slaughter of animals (which if you own a leather jacket,couch, or pair of shoes, then yes, you do too!)all around the world everyday~ JUST STOP IT.

Peter Hunziker
What constitutes a "humanely killing"? - and for seals only? Have those "do-gooders" ever visited any abattoir be it for cattle, pigs, or poultry not to speak about the fisheries?
The US states are still searching for an answer with respect of humans.
Are we gonna face a decade of discussion during which the product is barred?

DD is right, but...
DD is absolutely right. Anyone who finds the seal hunt abhorrent and inhumane ought to take a look online into what happens in factory farms... awful. It's way worse than what happens to seals, and it happens on a much larger scale than seal hunting. At least a seal's life is natural up until the point it is killed in a hunt. Not so with animals born and bred and killed in factory farms.

But DD is wrong on that closing point - there is an alternative plan of action non-vegetarians and non-vegans can take, one that will actually help. Buy ONLY organic meats that you can verify as being raised ethically and treated humanely. There are farms that go out of their way to do this. Same with eggs - don't buy eggs from battery operations. Local farmers will provide these alternatives. Check in your nearest farmer's market, or ask around at your local grocery stores to see if they stock these alternatives. It costs a lot more, but you can at least know your dollars are going towards supporting an industry that actually does alleviate animal suffering to a very significant degree. And the meat is so much better tasting. Yes, the animals are still killed one day, but their lives are not an extended period of total agony. If the cost factor is too high to do this, then you could at least try to buy less organic meat and eat more vegetables.

One thing is for sure - Europeans have a lot of nerve asking for humane seal hunt practices in other nations if they themselves run factory farms.

John Timmermans
The Mim. of fisheries Loyola Hearn should make sure that the distance be changed from 10 meters to 100 meters from fishing boats for all people that are out there to protest.
Hearn has said that people can be as close as 10 meters to observe with videos while in fact they are not observing, they are interfering with the fishermen. Hearn should also abolish all helicopters that are buzzing around trying to chase the seal off the ice.

DD
JC...seals are not killed ONLY for their fur. Again, you're sipping the Kool-aid provided by the Animal Rights groups. Seal meat and oil is also harvested. Just as the cow's hid is used for leather, the seal's coat is also used, but IT IS NOT the only part of the seal that is used.In fact, the oil is especially valuable because it is not contaminated with such toxins as mercury given that the seals are so young (but older than the average chicken that you have for dinner).

Educate yourselves. Don't depend on the lies told by the animal rights groups. They would still have you believe the white coats are harvested when that part of the hunt was banned twenty years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The slaughterhouse analogy is perfect. Trying to convince yourself otherwise while you BBQ steak is nothing short of hypocritical.

Dave2008
Even China has banned dog meat during Olympic, why can't we ban the seal hunting. Seals are my kids' favorite to see in Toronto Zoo, I cant imagine to tell them the truth that Canadians are so brutal to kill lovely seals.

Blue Collar
If we can only harvest resources based on "necessity of life" then I guess we should ban the cutting of trees except for primary shelter, the drilling of oil except for cooking and heating, and the use of water except for drinking (to name a few). No more luxury items such as hardwood floors, gas guzzling SUVs or swimming pools!

The point is that, just because you don’t agree with the fur trade doesn’t mean it should be banned based on the fact that it’s not done primarily for food. As long as the resource is managed properly and harvesting is executed legally, it should be carried on to satisfy the material desire of whoever chooses to pay for it.

If the same criteria were applied to the rest of our resources, the economy would ground to a halt.

Long live GREED!

John
They just want to get their foot in the door with little regulations.
Then get all the right people in the right posts then regulate it to death. Same old same old from our socialist masters. Dont give them a inch.

james
Well said DD.

The Europeans of all people have little to be self-righteous about. They are hypocrites in every political arena: economics, industry, defence.

They are happy to see animals killed for amusement (bullfighting or UK deer hunt) yet want to attack a legitimate industry. They are happy that Canada spent trillions (that went into EU economies) stationing troops in Europe during the Cold War yet won't lift a finger to help us in Afghanistan.

This issue isn't about the seal hunt. This is about Canada standing up to a Continent of arrogant elitists. The only acceptable response is retaliation on EU products. A surtax on EU wine of $5.00 per bottle would be a start. Perhaps stopping fishing by the Spanish off Newfoundland. No off-shore mining or oil in the Gulf of St Lawrence by France. Maybe removing all military service personnel from Europe and revisiting why Canada belongs to NATO.

I like what I heard from the government on this issue yesterday. Its time to play hard-ball!

duck
I once asked an animal activist group to send me their financial records before I would donate to their cause. They would not send me the info. I also asked them if they would compensate the lost income of the seal hunters and educate their children. The response was that it is not their problem.
I find it interesting that it is easy to protest and ask for money and yet provide no alternate income or employment to the people that rely on the seal hunt to pay their bills.

fitzz
The EU has entirely too much to say about entirely too many things that are not any of its business.

Canada needs to advise Brussels candidly, directly and with NO politeness to - GET STUFFED!

RRO
They have no right to dictate our policies within Canada. The EU is getting a little ahead of itself, it is not the most powerful nation on Earth and it is not the global moral police.

Perhapes we will cut off oil supplies or other items in Europe until they address the appauling practise of Bullfighting in Italy.

Greg
Canada's seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine animals in the world. It is inhumane and barbaric. Thank you EU for taking a stand.

DLabradorian
I am a Labradorian and it drives me crazy when ppl talk about the seal hunt. We have ppl who only see an animal with big cute eyes being killed so they want it stopped. They really don't care if it humane or not. This is a hunt that is a way of life for a lot of ppl in Newfoundland and Labrador and has been for man years, Long before ppl even knew what unhumane was. To JC making the comment about nothing being educated to do another job, I have two comment: Most of these ppl hunting are very educated maybe not always with a university degree but if you speak to them they will probably out smart you when it comes to knowledge on the seal hunt and many other thing. Second we want ppl to stay here at home and not leave for Out West, have you ever spoke with a Newfoundland or Labradorian who said alls they wanted in life was to leave home and go work out west, Cuz i mayself don't know any, and have enough family who have moved away because there are no job Home. It's hard so speak to these ppl and see what they say. Last but not least, since there has been a cut back on hunting seals they Cod stock has depleted ( yes we are also a cause from over fishing but not the only cause ) due to the fact that they eat the Cod. So if there is more seal they are going to eat more Cod, so how will they Cod stock ever grow again. I support the seal hunt and think ppl like Paul McCartney and others should learn there facts before they condem something they know nothing about.