Norwegian sealers condemned for cruelty by government inspector

"Last year the European Parliament overwhelmingly backed a ban on the sale of seal products in the EU on the basis of clear evidence that this trade is inherently cruel,” said MEP Arlene McCarthy. “This new report yet again demonstrates the unnecessary suffering caused by the seal hunt. It is time for the last few countries that still conduct a commercial seal hunt to heed world opinion and the evidence of their own inspectors and bring this unacceptable practice to an end."

The report covers the actions of one of three boats which were involved in the Norwegian seal hunt from early April to mid-May of last year. The report documented numerous violations of hunt regulations including hooking seal pups while they were still alive, shooting training on live seals, careless shooting (sometimes needing as many as four rounds to make a kill) leading to pain and suffering, shooting animals about to enter the water so that the wounded seals escape initially only to die slowly on their own and generally condemns the amateurish conduct on the hunt that saw one hunter shooting at seals in the immediate vicinity of his oblivious colleague.

“With this unequivocal proof of the suffering caused by seal hunting we are calling on the Norwegian government to stop this national shame,” said O’Donnell. “The products of the hunt are unwanted, those conducting the hunt are inept and without large government subsidies the hunt is uneconomical.”

In the face of this new evidence and a new animal welfare law political support for the heavily-subsidised slaughter seems to be slipping in Norway. The industry itself is very small. In 2009 only three boats participated in the hunt killing 8,000 seals out of a quota of 40,000.

Canada and Norway have recently launched WTO challenges against the EU seal ban. Initial consultations have occurred and it is now up to those two countries to either proceed to a panel or conclude that an international hearing on the senseless violence, inherent inhumanity and economic unimportance of the seal hunt is best avoided.