European Parliament calls for end to seal slaughter

A Humane Society boat moves toward a seal carcass left by sealers after its pelt was removed. Picture / Reuters

The European Parliament has adopted a proposal designed to halt the annual slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seals in Canada and Russia.

The declaration, signed by 373 MEPs, calls for the European Commission to immediately introduce legislation banning the trade in seal body parts and products.

South-East England's Green Party Europe MP, Caroline Lucas proposed the ban after it emerged that more than a million wild harp and hooded seals had been slaughtered in Canada in just the last three years – and over a hundred thousand in Russia .

Canada's government says the "hunt" helps the local economy and keeps the seal population in check.

Dr Lucas said: "More than 20 years after the EU banned the import of fur products from the very youngest seal pups, hundreds of thousands of seals pups annually – most just a few weeks old – are clubbed on the ice floes or shot from moving boats as they attempt to flee. Many are skinned alive.

"And every year there is public outrage when pictures of the hunt are broadcast around the world – but the most 'telegenic' pictures are taken near the end of the annual hunt, and the outrage comes too late for another generation of seals."

Dr Lucas added: "Banning the import of all seal fur is the only guaranteed way of saving thousands of animals' lives and showing the EU takes animal welfare and protection issues seriously."

Such a ban has already been adopted in Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Croatia and the US.

The MEPs' declaration states the ban "should not have an impact on traditional Inuit seal hunting which, however, only accounts for 3 per cent of the current hunt".

- NZHERALD STAFF