Maritime Authorities

[robpage]

Seal Culling

Namibia

• Each year up to 85,000 baby seals are killed in Namibia to make just a few dollars from their furs.Terrified pups are rounded up, separated from their mothers, and violently beaten to death. An additional 6000 bull seals are killed for their genitalia (thought to be an aphrodisiac in some cultures.) Most of this is exported ultimately to Asia.At 6 am, the clubbing begins. Then, at 9 am each morning, bulldozers clean up and restore the beach before the tourists arrive to view the colony, because all of this happens in a designated seal reserve.Namibia is the only country in the Cape fur seal's range in which commercial hunting is permitted. Sealing occurs on two mainland colonies, Cape Cross and Wolf/Atlas Bay on the DeBeers company property, where 75 percent of the pups are born.From July 1 through Nov 15, commercial hunters hire approximately 160 part-time workers to kill the seals, most pups between the ages of 7 and 11 months.

• The Namibian government defends its industry claiming seals consume about 700,000 metric tons of fish a year and must be killed. When commercial sealing was ended in South Africa in the 1990’s, the fishing industry was not impacted negatively, but rather, it was improved.Namibia plans to increase the size of its annual seal cull next year in an effort to create jobs . What do they do with the meat and blubber , I hope it is not just wasted

Canada

The legalised annual slaughter in the Gulf of St Lawrence and around Newfoundland has this year been set by the Canadian government at 275,000 harp seals, out of a herd of more than 5.5 million, as well as 8,200 out of 600,000 hooded seals.
But protesters say that of the 224,000 seals killed last year, 98 per cent were pups under the age of three months.
Canada's commercial seal cull by fishermen - who harvest the creatures for their pelts, blubber and meat - is the world's largest hunt for marine mammals.
Given the helpless, photogenic nature of the prey and the hunting technique in which the creatures are chased over the ice and clubbed to death with a heavy stick, the practice has long prompted protests and anger.
While the Canadian government claims that the hunt is "humane, sustainable and responsible", protesters say it is cruel and unsustainable.
Harp seals have never been considered endangered but environmentalists say that the killing of so many pups each year will ultimately damage seal stocks.
Robbie Marsland, the UK director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said the quotas "will inevitably have serious consequences for the future of the harp seal population".
He added: "Scientists predict that annual hunts at this level could reduce the population by 70 per cent in the next 15 years."
The commercial seal hunting season in Canada lasts from mid-November to mid-May but most of it occurs in late March and the beginning of April.

[happy daze john in oz]

At least they are seamen. Pity they did not wash the intruders off their ship with a high pressure hose.

Alternatively they could have harpooned a few. Cruelty to animals? Don't the Canadians get away with clubbing seal pups to death.

They did but there was such an international outcry about this that I believe it has now stopped.
One of the problems we have today is thta man has not found a way to live side by side with the wild life of this planet so we kill them, but use the nice term of cull. No matter how you spel it the fact remains it is unnessesary slaughter by a creature who claims to be the smartest on this palnet! Well I got news for him, he is a bit of a dumb clucker in so many areas.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Shipmates, I only come across one ex whaler, for a good number of years my good friend John life long sea time all types of ships all flags, who was a chief steward on a ship with me, he has not been well for a while, He only was on one because the money was very good "The crew could eat as much whale as they liked The "Japenese crew had it for breakfast, dinner, and tea, Minky whale is the best so he said, He dont care for it himself, likes a bacon/egg sandwitch but big money is made by the people who hunt and kill them for profit, the Ivory/whalebone is more expensive than the meat but My view point is leave them whales alone more money to be made from tourist, as many who have seen them in the wild at sea would not kill one they are awesome!!!!

[j.sabourn]

In the 49 years I was at sea, the last 20 or so in charge of vessels I always respected Maritime Authoritys and as far as was humanly possible went by the maritime rules. My whole attitude to such authoritys has now changed, as see on our TV screens flagrant breaking of rules, ships ramming into one another. If this was happening on trading vessels there would be loss and suspension of certificates and most likely prison terms. What the hell is wrong with our so called Government Maritime officers, they cant say they have no control, thats b....t. The laws were made so they do have control. The ships for a start should be refused entry to start with, if they claim a port of refuge, arrest them on arrival. Regardless of public opinion about nationalitys and whaling in general this is beside the point. It appears the politicians are turning a blind eye to the carrying on in the Southern Ocean. The pictures on todays TV are sufficient evidence to arrest these ships at the next port of call, if anyone wants to accept them that is. If I was master on a vessel, and another which was intent on ramming me I would use every article I had on board to protect the ship and crew. In the case of the catchers I would put an explosive harpoon through the offending ships wheelhouse. I am surprised the Japanese crews have not already done this, so good for them that they are refraining from escalation of this crap that is going on. One of the Greens boasts are clean oceans and yet they are trying their hardest to have a definite pollution problem. Shows what their ethics really are. I am still waiting to hear from a Maritime Authority somewhere in the world why action is not being taking against the offenders of such wanton breaking of the law. I am totally disgusted by the non action being taken by supposedly Maritime authoritys. I will say again Disgusted. John Sabourn.

[robpage]

I believe if Sea Shepherd damages the Whaler's Tanker and causes massive pollution in the Southern Ocean they will try and blame the Japanese , no matter how well intentioned these people are they are endangering lives and environment

[leratty]

JC Rob post 11, am blown away by the Namibia detail. How the f can this occur & the 'tourists' not see anything? Yes I know it is a developing country however where is the law who buys the hides, OK the Chinese but feel that may indeed be a cop out as for sure some developing countries do too?

When we were in the Solomon's last, quite a few years ago on our yacht, we came across two dolphin rustling groups who wrangled them in from deep sea then corraled them close to shore (many dying in the pens) then selling them to yes western ocean-marine parks etc. We even spoke to a few of the western gents acting for these organisations, had a real barny with a US citizen about it, all of course to no avail.

As to rules of the sea etc, I concur with John & do not understand why any maritime authority is not enforcing the law. Also agree that the Japanese are acting in a controlled as well as responsible manner seamanship wise. Full marks to them, it is just their operation I hate. Oh don't tell me Norwegians eat whale meat or many of them, no way! So why do they still whale, buggered if I know just plain odd. Also why are Aus Aboriginals by law allowed to kill Dungogs, mind blowing they have more than enough tucker on land & sea so why?