- WASHINGTON, D.C. -ñ
The International Fund for Animal Welfare applauded the U.S. Senate for
introducing a powerful bipartisan Senate Resolution today urging the government
of Canada to end the needless slaughter of harp and hooded seals ñ
the world's largest hunt for marine mammals, and arguably, with up to 42
per cent of seals skinned alive, the cruelest.
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- "We are profoundly appreciative of Senator Levin's
commitment to seeking solidarity within the U.S. Senate against Canada's
commercial seal hunt," IFAW seals campaigner Rebecca Aldworth said.
"The Humane Society of the United States, along with many other groups
and individuals worldwide join the collective voice of IFAW and its 2 million
donors in calling on the U.S. Senate to pass Senator Levin's resolution
and demonstrate that America will not tolerate this unnecessary slaughter."
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- The Department of Fisheries and Oceans allowed the highest
kill level ever when it introduced a plan last February to kill nearly
one million seals over the next three years. Ninety-five per cent of seals
killed are under three months of age.
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- Senator Levin's resolution cited a 2001 study by an independent
team of veterinarians as evidence for the resolution. Their study found
that the seal hunt failed to comply with basic animal welfare standards
and that Canadian government regulations with regard to humane killing
were neither respected nor enforced. The study concluded that well over
one third of the seals studied were likely skinned alive.
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- The resolution also pointed to the inability of the Canadian
government to enforce the quota, citing the fact that many of the seals
shot during the hunt escape beneath the ice and die later.
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- "Paul Martin has made it clear that renewing Canada's
relationship with the U.S. is one of his highest priorities," Aldworth
said. "The U.S. Senate Resolution is confirmation that a good place
to begin would be to stop killing millions of seal pups for products nobody
wants or needs."
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- The American public has also spoken out against the commercial
seal hunt. A survey released in December 2002 by the Humane Society of
the Unites States found that 79 per cent of Americans oppose the killing
seals for their fur. The poll also indicated American opposition to the
hunt could critically affect tourism and related economic interests, particularly
in Atlantic Canada.
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- - For media-related inquiries, contact: Katy Heath-Eves
(IFAW) ñ Canada Tel: 1 (613) 241-8996; Email: kheath@ifaw.org
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- © 2003 International Fund for Animal Welfare
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- http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=77298
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