The annual harp seal slaughter off Îles de la Madeleine in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence began today amid secrecy as the Canadian government attempts to keep things quiet in light of the upcoming European ban on seal products. No official word was released with the starting date, leaving the public wondering over the weekend until it became clear that hunters had been given the go-ahead for Monday morning.
Over the weekend, federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea set the annual harp seal quota at 280,000 animals for the entire hunt, including Newfoundland, 5,000 more then last year.
The European Union will vote on April 2 to pass a bill banning the purchase of seal products by member nations and effectively blocking the channel that currently produces much of the profit from the annual slaughter.
Here’s hoping the EU passes the bill as is expected – you can bet slaughtering infant seals will lose its appeal quickly when their very skin can’t be sold for profit any longer.
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