Lenie’s visit to the Canadian province Prince Edward Island can tentatively be called a success. Fearlessly, she conferred with seal hunters, the government (Philip Brown,the minister of tourism and others), scientists (such as Don Bowen, one of the leading seal-population biologists worldwide, connected to the Bedford Institute for Oceanography in Halifax) and the people in the tourist industry.
She even spoke to Chuck Gallison, gamekeeper and actual seal-saver, who rehabilitates needy seals and releases them near one of the highest bridges of Charlottetown. The outcome of the visit is that the Prince Edward Island seal hunters are now willing to postpone their yearly seal hunt. They also are willing to stop hunting seals completely, if this is made financially possible for them.
The SRRC now has a unique possibility to take the first steps to end the seal hunt on this island.
In cooperation with American businesswoman Cathy Kangas of PRAI Beauty, who feels compelled to take action against the suffering of seals, a plan has been made for a binding contract with the hunters, in which they shall renounce the seal hunt.
The plan consists of three parts:
- The hunters will be paid a premium so that they can develop other – seal friendly – sources of income.
- The SRRC will help them research ways to reduce incidental hindrances to the fishing industry caused by seals.
- The beautiful Prince Edward Island will be the first province to, by stopping its seal hunt, receive financial support to develop eco- and animal-friendly tourism and to set-up an information centre.
Lenie is now appealing to Dutch businesses to help her fund these investments. Much can be achieved with only the smallest incentive. Unfortunately, seal hunting in the Newfoundland area and Magdalene Islands will be continuing as normal this year. Hopefully though, our actions have made a start to end all seal hunting.
In Canada, support for Lenie's initiative came from an unexpected corner: All the way from British Columbia on the west coast of Canada, Mr. Jan van de Linde, a political associate of the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, wrote: 'Mrs 't Hart’s plans deserve serious consideration. They would solve an unpleasant problem and save us much international fuss.’ Well, we agree with that entirely!
26-03-2007 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
