European parliamentarians support seal ban

A majority of European Parliament members have voted yes to a proposal that is designed to halt the annual seal hunt in Canada, Greenland and Russia.

The declaration, which was not officially endorsed by the EU assembly, called on the EU’s European Commission to draft a ban “without delay.”

The declaration is sponsored by Caroline Lucas, a Green Party MEP for southeast England.

Lucas co-sponsored the declaration, along with four other members, calling for a ban on the import or sale in Europe of any products from hooded or harp seals.

A “written declaration” rarely receives the support of enough MEPs to become the parliament’s official policy, but with 373 signatures, the call for a seal fur import ban did just that, two weeks ahead of its parliamentary deadline.

Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands have, or are currently implementing, national bans on seal products. Canadian officials, including DFO Minister Loyola Hearn, have defended the hunt in meetings with their European counterparts.

Their message is that sealing is essential to the survival of aboriginal peoples in the Arctic.

Lucas has said the proposed ban should exempt the traditional Inuit hunt and focus only on commercial hunters, but, if adopted, the ban could cripple the Inuit seal hunt.

“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,” Lucas said.