War of words in seal hunt Buyers receive funding from government, says Aldworth
War of words in seal huntBuyers receive funding from government, says AldworthBy Alessio Galletti
Originally Published: 2010-02-14
If they have a buyer, I suspect hes receiving funding from the Canadian government. this is Rebecca Aldworths assessment of the seal hunters claim on the eve of the Hay Island hunt that this will be a more profitable season than last years.it seems hard to believe, in fact, after the ban approved by the European Union that shut Canada out of an important seal product market, that demand would have increased. Nevertheless, Robert Courtney of North Smoky-Inverness South Fishermens Association declared last Sunday that hunters at this coming weeks Hay Island hunt have already found a buyer for all 2,200 seal killings a number approved by the Ministry of Fisheries. last year, before the ban had yet to be approved, just 200 pelts were sold.Courtney expects higher prices for each pelt this year. Aldworth, director of the International Humane Society Canada, who is in Cape Breton, a short distance from the natural Hay Island reserve to monitor the hunt, is very skeptical about Courtneys claims.this year the market for seal products has been restricted due to the EU ban, and theres talk that the price of pelts will be lower. Its true, however, that there are other markets such as Russia and Asia: One has to question how much Canada stands to make in these countries.The hunters claim to have found a buyer for 2,200 pelts. Could this be possible? that surprises us, because last year they werent able to find any if it wasnt for the 200 pelts purchased as samples by a Newfoundland company (Editors note: new Tan Furs inc.). as well, the hunt has been officially opened since [last] Monday and from what I know they wont even get to Hay Island today. why wait? that doesnt appear to be the actions of someone who already has a buyer.Are they bluffing?Maybe thats what theyre saying to the media. they show off their best smile and pretend everything is going well. Maybe there is a buyer, but if thats so, I have strong suspicion hes receiving funding from the Canadian government to buy the pelts.
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War of words in seal hunt Buyers receive funding from government, says Aldworth
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