Subjects Press release Seal Alert-SA Francois Hugo
Scroll down for press release
July 1 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 10 - 12
June 25 - 28 - 30
12 July Namibian Baby Seal Clubbers Win - Endangered Seals Lose
10 July OPEN LETTER FRANCOIS HUGO
Namibian Sealing Industry Fails Constitutions of South Africa and Namibia.
8 July:
Kill 'Them' All - Namibia Orders Sealers, As Environmental Conditions Worsen
6 July:
So the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries,Finally Admits 'Seal-Clubbers' are Un-skilled and Unemployed
5 July:
Seal Alert-SA Releases Short Movie Clip of Namibia Seal Cull 2007
1 July :
Declining Seal Populations, Ravaged by Starvation,
Blamed for Namibia's Doubled Fishery Capacity
25 June
5 days to go to the start of Namibia's Annual Baby Seal Cull, the largest cull of Endangered Wildlife and the second largest Seal Harvest in the World. SEE BELOW : Why Namibia Must Stop This Cull.
28 June
Ignoring Namibia mass death of seals, Namibia increases quota for three years
30 june
Namibia Doubles Fishery Catch and Culls Endangered Seals to Increase Fishing
From: Seal Alert-SA
Date 12 July, 2007
Namibian Baby Seal Clubbers Win - Endangered Seals Lose
Dear All Cape Fur Seal Supporters,
We do not have an option not to set-up this legal fund and start immediate legal proceedings to halt the 2007 seal hunt in Namibia. If we don't, Seal Alert-SA will be forced to release the below press release. Seal Alert-SA's Open Letter to the Minister's remain unanswered or published. Please direct all enquires to Jason Bell jbell@ifaw.org hereafter. Please ensure all wildlife organizations are forwarded a copy of this release.
Namibian Baby
Seal Clubbers Win - Endangered Seals
Lose
It is now day 12 into
the 2007 Namibian endangered baby seal slaughter. An
estimated 7000 baby seal pups have already been clubbed to
death. Its cruel, its sick - to this there is no question.
See video-clip
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOzp_uh-3ls.
Namibian journalist Rodrick Mukumbira's Associated
Press article July 6, "Larger Namibian Seal Hunt Prompts
Outcry", received unprecedented worldwide media
coverage. The photo above, voted by Yahoo as the "Most
Recommend World Photo".
It is indeed a sad day in Animal
Rights and Endangered Seal Welfare, when
Namibian Fishery Ministry announces a "sustainable"
thirty percent increased pup quota of 85 000 pups for
the 2006 sealing season, up from 65 000 pups the year
before. Even sadder, when Seal Rights holder of Seal
Products at Cape Cross Seal Reserve reports to the Namibian
Republikein newspaper
www.republikein.com.na/content/nuus/2006/Oct/18_ramp.php ,
"There simply are not any more pups to kill".
Although listed as an endangered
seal species in 1977 with the United Nations Convention In
Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), ratified by South
Africa in 1975 and Namibia in 1991. Whereas Namibia now
remains the only country in the world clubbing nursing baby
seal pup,of which pups account for 90 per cent of the
quota.
Sadder still, when Namibian
Ministry of Fisheries releases its research findings during
the sealing season on October 9, 2006, (which runs from
July to November) stating, "Current Seal Mortalities Along
The Namibian Coast" (Seal Alert-SA has a copy).
Pathetic. When the Namibian Minister
states in his Annual Fishing Industry Address in 2006, that
two of the three Sealing Rights holders (the industry)
rights expire end of 2007.
Ignoring all this. Namibian Fishery
Ministry releases three days before the start of the 2007
sealing season, which starts on July 1 its annual sealing
quota. Refusing to divulge the promised December 2006
population survey (which would have had to take into
account the results of the mass die-off acknowledged in
October 2006). Namibian Ministry claims the seal pup
population in December 2005 was 205 500. Awards a reduced
pup quota (6 per cent) of 80 000 pups for the 2007 sealing
season, and announces this will be a three year rolling
quota (using December 2005 and not December 2006 population
figures for this quota).
This is not the first time, the Ministry
has acted so irresponsibly with endangered seal
conservation, and got away with it. In 2000, it doubled the
pup quota from 30 000 to 60 000 pups, and then reported
that in 2000 sealing season the seals had suffered
their second major mass die-off, since the 1994 incident,
and reported that the 95 per cent of the pups died and half
the adult seals from starvation in 1994, was in fact
larger. An estimated 300 000 to 500 000 seals starved to
death that year.
Ignoring the most recent
scientific research which states pup mortality from birth
on the sealing colonies has doubled from 30 per cent
to 62 per cent before the start of the annual sealing
seasons (Seal Alert-SA has the research paper), Namibian
Ministry goes ahead with its cull and annihilation of
baby nursing seal pups.
Shameful. Subtract 62 per cent
mortality for the stated 205 500 (December 2005) pup
population supplied by the Ministry, (noting that this
excludes the promised December 2006 population results or
takes into consideration the mass die-off in 2006). That
would leave 78 090 pups alive on July 1. Namibia awards an
80 000 sustainable pup harvesting quota for the sake of 120
jobs for "unemployed, poor and destitute workers (As stated
by Permanent Secretary Mbako in the Afriquenligne newspaper
on July 4, 2007"
www.afriquenligne.fr/news/daily_news/namibia_strongly_defends_annual_seal_harvest_200707051638/
.
A pup quota what would kill every pup, and more.
To Clearly state, 205 500 pups, subtract
62% mortality = 78 090 pups alive July 1. Sealing pup quota
2007 is 80 000. An Annihilation of the seals.
Illegal. When Ministry claims it is
mandated to harvest seals sustainable under the
Constitution. In the process making a mockery of its own
Constitution and the legal system.
Disgraceful. Hundreds of millions of
dollars, if not billions has been collected by various
large international Anti-Hunt Seal organizations from
around the world, such as Humane Society, People For the
Ethical Treatment of Animals, International Fund for Animal
Welfare, Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, collecting public
funds and donations on the sole pretext to end these Seal
Hunts, and when a legal opportunity stares them in the face
- they ignore it, hide themselves or simply run away.
Disgusting. When an international news
agency states that they have over 1,5 million photo's of
the Canadian Seal Hunt, but not a single photo in their
archives of the Namibian Seal Hunt. A recent appeal by an
international award winning film-maker, for travelling and
accommodation funding, to document the hunt, who is willing
to risk possible arrest and confiscation of his own
personal valuable filming equipment, receives a $50
donation on a $4000 expense trip.
Immoral. When the United States banned
these Cape fur seal products back in 1971, and even
recently governments of Germany and the Netherlands. What
is wrong with the Anti-Hunt Seal Movement?
Whilst most conservation organizations
support sustainable use of wildlife, this veil to hide
behind no longer serves, as scientifically it has been
stated in the 1990 Commission on Sealing (in which Seal
Alert-SA has a copy). The sustainable harvest for seals is
between 29% and a maximum 45%, this was when the natural
mortality was assessed at 30%, and before the reported mass
die-off's in 1994, 2000 and 2006.
In 2006, the Namibian Ministry clearly
stated the Seal Population has still not recovered from the
1994 die-off, and is still 27 per cent below 1993
population level.
Natural Pup Mortality is now 62 per
cent. The 300 per cent increase in Pup harvest quota
since independence (1990) now ensures a harvest
exceeding 100 per cent. This in anybody's language is not
sustainable for this already endangered species.
We need to act now, to truly save this
species. International Fund for Animal
Welfare, directered by Jason Bell and based in Cape
Town, which is also close to Seal Alert-SA,
is logistically the most appropriate organization to
set-up the legal fund, administer it and
begin immediate legal proceedings.
As Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA is a
small hands-on organization with the most knowledge, he
should retain legal decision and be cited in court papers.
It is both unfeasible and legally impossible for a single
individual (Francois Hugo) to take the Namibian government
to court.
We need to start an immediate Court
Application requesting the Namibian Courts for an Interdict
to immediately halt the 2007 seal cull.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
27-21-790 8774
* . * .
*
Date July 10, 2007
Namibian
Sealing Industry,
Fails (Highest Court in Land)
CONSTITUTIONS
South Africa
and Namibia
OPEN
LETTER
FISHERY
MINISTERS OF NAMIBIA & SOUTH AFRICA
Namibian
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Abraham Iyambo
and South Africa Minister of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism Martinus van Schalkwyk. Please respond publicly to
this open letter.
Dated.
July 10, 2007
Dear Ministers,
Urgent
Request To Halt 2007 Seal Cull.
Past decade natural
mortality of pups exceeds those pups alive after July 1,
and exceeds the annual set TAC sealing pup quota. Seal
population is now significantly lower than in 1993.
Canadian sealers
harvest weaned pups at 30 per cent of pup production.
Namibian sealers harvest nursing pups 100 per cent plus of
surviving pup population.
I draw your attentions this
past weekend to the global public outcry in the
international media regarding Namibia's decision to cull 80
000 nursing baby Cape fur seal pups (non-fish eaters)
rolling for three years to protect fish stocks. Rodrick
Mukumbrira Associated Press Writer's article has
unprecedently been carried in newspapers in Ireland, United
Kingdom, France, Germany, Africa, United States, South
Africa, Namibia, Turkey and Canada to name just a few,
and CNN and FOXNews.
Read full article on Federal Radio in US
(federalnewsradio.com/?nid=82&sid=1182550).
1.
Sustainability.
Scientific research states, pups born in December suffer a
62 per cent(natural cull) mortality due to declining
environmental conditions by the start of sealing season on
July 1.
Subtract 62 per cent from
the stated 2006 pup population of 185 000 = 70 000 pups
alive July 1. To which an increased quota of 85 000
pups was awarded (2006). Subtract 62 per cent >from your
stated 2007 pup population of 205 500 = 78 000 pups alive
July 1. To which you award a rolling-three year, 80 000 pup
quota per year.
1a) Sealing
Pup Quota. Since
independence sealers have failed to reach annual set TAC
sealing pup quota, averaging 60 per cent. By implication
quotas are unreachable and therefore unsustainable. Sealing
Pup quotas have increased 300 per cent in the last decade.
This is not
sustainable. Sealing pup quota in 2006 attempts to harvest
15 000 more seal pups than alive. It is in fact genocide of
all the seal pups.
2.
International
Agreements. South
Africa ratified itself in 1975, and nominated Cape fur
seals in 1977 as an endangered species to the United
Nations Convention In Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
Namibia ratified in 1991. Cape fur seals Appendix II
listing, states their survival is dependent upon
conservation measures.
1990 Commission on Sealing
chaired by John Hanks of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) advisory
committee recommended a unified seal management policy for
this single species of seal (South Africa and Namibia).
Signature to the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem in
realization of the Reykjavik declaration on Responsible
Fisheries in the Ecosystem. Public Protector of the
Republic of South Africa findings are the Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism has a Constitutional
obligation to protect and promote the conservation of the
Cape fur seals (November 2005).
Cape fur seal products are
banned from import in United States of America since 1971,
in Mexico, Croatia, Belgium, Italy, South Africa and most
recently in Germany and Netherlands, your two largest
incoming tourist country's. In violation of USA law,
Namibian sealers in 2002 attempted to import 5000 seal
skins into US which was seized. South Africa on two
occasions in 2003,criminally convicted importer with skins
exported from Namibian sealers.
Namibia's seal pup
quota sealing policy is in unlawful violation
of international agreements, laws and Cites
Convention.
3.
Constitution.
Minister Iyambo claims he is mandated to harvest seal under
the Constitution. Not
true. Under the
Constitution the Ministry is mandated to utilize the
seal resource sustainable. Consumptively or
Non-consumptively. He cannot replace the word utilize with
harvest, and as an option not apply a non-consumptive
policy. South Africa has a non-consumptive seal
management policy.
Namibian seal cull is
in unlawful violation of the South African and Namibian
Constitution with regard to sustainability.
4. Sealing
Rights. Having
stated in your February 2006 Annual Address to the Fishing
Industry that, "Biological data indicate no need for new
rights. There is a general need to decreased effort on all
established commercial fisheries". "Moratorium on new
rights for at least next 5 years - unless a drastic change
in resource". "Total of 33 rights of exploitation due to
expire end 2007/early 2008, (of these) 2 sealing rights".
Three sealing
companies had sealing rights in 2006. You are duty bound to
expire two of those Seal Rights in 2007.
On
February 14, 1991. The South African Cabinet decided to
temporarily suspend all commercial seal harvesting on the
South African coast.
Stating as its
reasons;
Sealers are forced to club tens of thousands of pups frequently. During the initial stampede to freedom or attempts to reach the safety of the sea. After being dragged semi-conscious to collection site. After being stabbed in the heart. Seal pups after repeated clubbing to head and stabbing in the chest/heart, still breathing and require further clubbing. Time delays of up to an hour between initial blow to head and the final breath. Pups vomit in shock mothers milk after initially blow to head and whilst cutting open chest to reach the heart.
Culling, disturbing and rounding up 80 per cent of the seal population for 139 days is extremely cruel, stressful and is a threat to the species.
6. Population. Most recent scientific information available reveal that the seal population had recovered to 73 per cent of 1993 level (Namibian Ministry, July 10, 2006). Therefore in 2006, the seal population is 27 per cent lower than in 1993. In 2000, a further mass die-off involving 95 per cent of the pups and half the adult seal population, took place after a similar die-off in 1994. A further similar mass die-off occurred after sealing quota 2006 was announced. Unchanged biological conditions indicate a further die-off in 2007.
Sealing country's of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia introduced a ban on harvesting nursing baby seal pups in their sealing regulations in 1987.
Namibia's annual seal cull is 90 per cent nursing seal pup based.
As a South African, I am duty bound under South African Constitution and within my legal rights to enforce the protection and conservation of the Cape fur seal species, to which you are annihilating.
For the above reasons, we respectfully request a public announcement halting the 2007 seal cull, with immediate effect.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
* . * .
*
From: SEALALERT SA
Date:
July 8, 2007
VIDEO
NAMIBIASEALCULL2007 no 2
VIDEO
NAMIBIASEALCULL2007 no 1
Kill 'Them' All - Namibia Orders Sealers,
As Environmental Conditions Worsen
Seal
Alert-SA, Press Release, July 8, 2007.
As Namibian Ministry digs in
its heels to kill endangered baby seals and protect
the jobs of 120 unskilled, unemployed, poor and destitute
part-time seal clubbers - Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA,
digs in further and releases Seal Clubbing Clip Number
2 :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOzp_uh-3ls
and
www.youtube.com/watch?v=onkt6VuAhnw,
in an effort to end the hunt now, and protect 80 000
starving seal pups, 6000 bulls and the entire endangered
seal species of Cape fur seals from being slaughtered.
One week into Namibia's seal
annual cull. Citizen Newspapers lists Seal Alert-SA as
Quote of the Week, "Throughout the world it is accepted
that the fishing industry is over subscribed. It is
ludicrous to contend that seals can compete with commercial
fishing" - Francois Hugo, Seal Alert-SA.
Top stories on CNN
www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/07/06/namibia.seals.ap/index.html and
FOXNews
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288402,00.html.
Kill 'Them'
All - Namibia Orders Sealers,
As
Environmental Conditions Worsen
2006 Namibian Fisheries states seal pup population 185 000.
Dr JP Le Roux, Head of Marine Mammal Section Namibian
Ministry of Fisheries and two other scientists found that
natural pup mortality has increased during the past decade
in January it is 30%, and between February - July (start of
seal culling season) a further 32% mortality. Subtracting
this natural mortality of 62% (January - July) from 185 000
pups born in December (mortality up by 100% from previous
decades). Would leave the sealers on July 1, 70 000 pups to
club. Namibian Ministry awarded an 85 000 pup quota for
2006. 80 000 for 2007.
In addition, Namibian
scientists report another major mass die-off from
starvation year in 2006 (mortality as high as 95% of
the pups and half the adults). With environmental
conditions worsening, a further mass die-off is expected in
2007. Namibian sealers reported "no more seal pups to kill
- all dead". 2007, Namibian Ministry reduces seal pup
quota 6%, and orders sealers to kill them all, setting the
quota at 80 000 pups and 6000 bulls.
Seal Alert-SA receives
US NOAA request. I am a Special Agent with the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in
the United States. Several years ago, my office
intercepted a shipment of Cape fur seal pelts being
transshipped through the USA. This was a violation of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act (USA law). I see that the
seal hunt is currently underway. I am interested
in tracking any shipments of whole or parts of seal
harvested during this hunt, to ensure they are not brought
into the USA in violation of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act. I wonder if your organization, or
some other organization, maintains a list of company
names involved in the; harvest, processing,
transporting, buying or selling whole or parts
of seals harvested during this hunting period.
Please Read. Dummies Guide
(make it easier to understand) Why Namibia Must End Its
Seal Cull, at the end of this release.
Building
'Berlin' walls around former seal island colonies. Banning
entire seal colonies from small remote islands. Forced
relocation on unlimited breeding desert mainlands. The mass
death and clubbing of entire generations - Is this the
Namibian answer, to endangered seal conservation?
The four pictures above illustrate Seal Alert-SA sole
responsibility for ending the Namibian seal cull.
Throughout this campaign Seal Alert-SA has never appealed
for public funding or donations. Invitations to the
Ministry to meet go unanswered.
Namibian Permanent Secretary
Nangula Mbako of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine
Resources told the media, "There is nothing new, neither
interesting ... the issues raised are unfortunately
outdated and have become repetitive".
Yet, GlobeandMail, Washington Post, Namibian
Economist, Namibian Government owned New Era, Herald
Tribune, News24, CNN, FOXNews, Mail&Guardian, German
BILD, Ireland News, Houston Chronicle, The Guardian UK,
Sunday Independent, The Namibian, Weekend Argus, Citizen,
Mercury and the Cape Times, just to name a few, all ran
stories.
The largest cull of endangered
marine mammals is NEWS, clearly the media and international
public think so.
Seal cull up 470 per cent since
Namibian independence.
1977 South Africa listed Cape
fur seals as an Endangered CITES Appendix II
species. 1989 the seal cull quota was 16000 (the seal
population was larger then) of which only 6 285 pups
were harvested. 2007 it is 80 000 (2006 it was 85
000)pups and 6000 bulls.
Announcing the 2007 sealing
quota, stated that 80 per cent of the seal population has
now re-colonised the unlimited desert mainland and only 20
per cent is left on their original breeding habitat
offshore islands. This should make one stop and think?
Sealing originally took place
only on the islands, involving 13 seal colonies. Since
population surveys started in 1971, one original seal
colony has increased in population size. 7 colonies have
decreased. 5 original colonies are extinct, including the
largest one. This is what Namibia does not want anyone to
know.
Dummies Guide To Overwhelming
Evidence Why The Namibian Seal Cull Must End NOW!
Fisheries. Since independence
Namibia has doubled fishery catch, landings and quotas,
from 300 000 tons to 600 000 tons per annum. When it should
have reduced it by 50 per cent in 1990. Bank of Namibia
annual report, the fishing industry's contribution to the
country's GDP was 5 per cent in 2005. Sealing accounts for
0,01 per cent of fishery exports.
Policies. 1990 South Africa stops
its sealing policy on same species. Scientists state their
is no biological distinction between Namibian and South
African Cape fur seals - the seals are one population.
Sealing Commission chaired by WWF recommends a single
species management. South Africa stops, Namibia starts
sealing.
Number of pups alive on July 1.
Excluding a mass die-off, less than 70 000 or lower.
Sealing pup quota 80 000.
Natural Pup
Mortality/Environmental Cull. Double the fishery catch
doubles the natural seal pup mortality. Up from 25% to now
62%. Excluding, recorded mass die-off years from starvation
1994, 2000 and 2006 (95% of pups died and half the adult
seal population). Nature already kills 62% of the seal pups
before sealers start their annual 139 day seal cull.
Environmental. Global warming,
loss of former habitat, reduced fisheries, massive culls,
all will lead to this species extinction.
Unnatural Pup Mortality. Double
the fishery capacity, doubles the entanglement,
interactions, illegal shootings and drownings of
foraging seals at sea. Up from 30 000 to 60 000 seal
mortalities for one sector of thirteen sector Namibian
fishing industry. Its trawler fleets.
Seal Quota. Decade ago (1996) Seal
quota was 20 500. 2006 it was 91 000. 2007 it is 86 000.
Not a single marine predator species (fish, seabirds,
sharks, whales or dolphins) has increased, neither has
seals. Pup Sealing quota increased 300 per cent over last
decade.
Cull. Is a term scientific
conservationists use to reduce a wild population of animals
in an enclosed area (game park). It should have no basis
for an annual commercial sealing industry. It should be
breeding female based. Namibia exempts all breeding female
and cow seals.
Tourism. Four of the largest
international incoming tourist country's to Namibia. United
States, South Africa, Germany and Netherlands have all
specifically banned Cape fur seal product imports.
Largest Contributor to GDP. De
Beers Diamonds (the world's largest producer of gem
diamonds) has publicly voiced horror at the methods used to
cull baby seals and is opposed to the cull of seals within
diamond restricted area of Namibia.
Harvest. Constitutionally it must
sustain the population and not reduce it. Namibia does
neither.
Seal Population. Lower in 2006 and
2007 than in 1993. Never recovered from 1994 mass die-off
from starvation.
Namibian Sealing Policy. Annual.
90 per cent baby seal pup based and 3000 - 6000 bull seal
genital/penis harvest.
Percentage of Population
Harvested. 80% of the Seal Population for 139 days (July to
November) each year.
Media Banned From Cull. Previously
photo-journalists arrested. Diamond Area, restricted. Cape
Cross Nature Reserve patrolled by armed-guards. Staged
Media day in 2000. Mnet Television production Carte Blanche
produces evidence of random clubbing of all age groups of
seals, secretly filmed.
Morality Aspect. 1971 United
States of America banned the harvesting or importing of
products from nursing baby seals. European Union in 1983.
World remaining sealing countries (Canada, Greenland,
Russia and Norway) in 1987. Interferes in the natural
behaviour and breeding cycle. Threat to the survival of the
species. Considered a Crime Against Nature, even by
sealers.
Protection of Fish Stocks. Latest
scientific research (June 2006) reveals quantative
consumption of commercial fisheries cannot be determined
effectively, nor confirm whether competition exists. Up to
50 per cent of Cape fur seals diet is non-commercial fish
species based. Namibia's seal cull, exempts all fish-eating
seals, including breeding cows. Cull is 90 per cent based
on nursing baby seals suckling mothers milk (non-fish
eaters).
Cruelty Aspect. Chasing and
rounding up 80 per cent of the seal population for 139 days
each year, to separate pup from nursing seal cow, is
traumatic and cruel. Sealing regulations state seal pup
must be clubbed with a 1-metre wooden stick (pick
axe-handle) on the head and stabbed in the chest to
facilitate death. Filmed images of the slaughter, show pups
must be clubbed repeatedly, before and after being stabbed
in the heart. Pups found breathing after being clubbed and
stabbed. Pups vomit up freshly drunk white mothers milk in
shock, before, during and after being clubbed and stabbed.
Pups chest being cut open whilst still alive. Bulls shot
for their genitals.
Sealer Clubber Qualification.
None. "Sealing Industry sustain jobs for the unemployed,
poor and destitute" - (quote) Namibian Permanent Secretary
Mbako (July 4, 2007). Unskilled part-time employment.
Value Seal Product Exports. No
figure available for recent years. 2000 a total of 41
753 harvested seals (pelts, oil and meat) earned
(officially) Namibian $ 600 000. N$14 or USD $2 per seal.
Although Sealers claim industry earns N$5 million.
Sealing Industry. Three-man held
concession. Two of which Rights to Seal end 2007. Namibian
has imposed a 5-year moratorium on new fishing rights,.
Seals Killed Per Day. 600
pups are clubbed and stabbed each day, for
139 days until quota is filled or season ends. 200
bulls seals per day are shot with rifles to reach the 6000
bull seal quota.
Protection Status. Listed as an
Endangered seal species in 1977 by the United Nations
Convention In Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix
II. Whose survival is dependent upon sound conservation
measures.
Distribution. Only species of seal
breeding on African Continent.
Range. South Africa, Namibia and
Angola. Found nowhere else on earth.
Original Habitat. Former breeding
Islands 98 per cent extinct. Less than 20 per cent of the
seal population still bred in their natural original
habitat - islands.
Sealing Colonies. Now all mainland
based. 80 per cent of population. 2 mainland seal colonies.
Wolf/Atlas Bay within the De Beers/Namibian Government
Diamond Restricted Area. Operated by Namibian Venison &
Marine Products with a 38 050 seal harvest quota. Cape
Cross, a nature reserve on the mainland, operated by two
sealing concessionaires, Seal Products 32 950 seals and
Cape Cross Seals 20 000 seal harvest quota.
What Can You Do. Boycott
Everything Namibia. Cancel Tourism Plans to Namibia.
Pressure South African Minister to get involved. Spread the
word. Support Seal Alert-SA.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
+27-21-790 8774
* . * .
*
July 6, 2007
Seal
Alert-SA, Press Release, July 6, 2007.
Namibian
Ministry announce an end to the seal cull
or Seal
Alert-SA will be forced to release movie-clips on the
worldwide web, showing the most graphic sadistic cruelty
imaginable by your unskilled sealers. The first movie-clip
of which can be seen on Google video,
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2431581037762214099 or
youtube at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtzZOwK9byE or
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiUxGwpf1bA.
So the
Namibian Ministry of Fisheries,
Finally
Admits 'Seal-Clubbers' are Un-skilled and
Unemployed
Lets Talk
Facts !
unemployed,
unskilled, destitute part-time workers club 80
000 endangered baby seals already starving
(destitute)
In your strongly worded statement to the media on
Wednesday, slamming Seal Alert-South Africa accusing it of
rumour-mongering and falsifying information as reported by
the government owned newspaper New Era, perhaps Permanent
Secretary Mbako could send Seal Alert-SA an official copy.
(see copy
http://allafrica.com/stories/200707050873.html)
To enable Seal Alert-SA to reply. In so doing, please list
the alleged "distorting information and presenting
falsified accounts of events".
I refer to your quote,
"Seal harvesting is an economic activity and cannot be done
away with .... sealing industry sustain about 140 direct
jobs for the unemployed, poor and destitute. It is our
obligation to ensure they have a future".
So the Ministry finally
admits the Namibian Sealing Industry is a three-man
industry employing part-time 120 seal clubbers. Namibian
sealers who are unskilled, part-time and
unemployed. No doubt this is why Seal Alert-SA is in
possession of extensive footage showing such sadistic
cruelty to these seals.
Seal pups vomiting up their
mothers milk, clubbed pups needing to be re-clubbed
repeatedly, seal pups wriggling after being clubbed and
stabbed in the heart, pups clubbed and stabbed, still
breathing in their own blood. Should I go on, 80 000 pups a
year guarantees extensive footage?
Child Slave
Labour, Prostitution, Drug-dealing, Smuggling and
Poaching are also economic activities, would your Ministry
support these activities if it created employment for the
unemployed, poor and destitute? How about Fishery-Poaching
or Murder, Rape and Armed Robbery?
One of your three sealing
concessionaire rights holders Albert Brink (hardly
destitute), as he claimed in the Namibian newspaper on June
26, 2007. That he and his two other rights holders which
make up the Namibian sealing industry earn N$5 million per
year. Furthermore he claims the industry only employs 120.
Coincidentally did the US not also seize 5000 illegal seal
skins in 2002 and did not South Africa criminal courts not
convict an importer on two occasions in 2003, with skins
exported >from Brink?
Is this the future criminal
activity, Namibia has an obligation to ensure, which it
will not stop?
Release the individual
annual income these 120-140 "unemployed, poor and
destitute" seal clubbers receive. So the world can
understand why 120 unemployed people should hold the
endangered Cape fur seal species, the only species of seal
breeding on the African continent to ransom. Why it is so
vital that 80 000 pups must be clubbed and stabbed to death
and 6000 bulls shot for their genitals, whilst the seals
themselves are dying from starvation in mass.
Sustainable. Is it not true
that this endangered seal population is lower today
than it was in 1993? Has the natural mortality of this
species not increased from 25% to 62%, since Namibia's
independence and doubling of fishery quotas and landings?
Is this not enough of a cull? Is it not true,
that 95% of the pups and half the adult seal
population died in 1994, and again in 2000, and again last
year in 2006? Please re-read your own media release on
October 9, 2006, "Current seal mortalities along the
Namibian coast".
Did the sealers fill the
scientifically set quota, when it was increased from 30 000
to 60 000 in 2000? Did the sealers fill their quota in
2005, or when you increased it 30 per cent to 85 000 pups
in 2006? Have they ever since independence filled the
"sustainable and scientifically" allocated seal pup
quota?
Did sealers not publicly
report that sealing season ended early last year, as there
where no more pups to kill, with less than 60 per cent of
the quota reached? Is this what you refer to in your
statement, "marginal reduction experienced in 2006
when most seals
starved".
What part of killing all the
endangered seal pups is sustainable?
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
* . * .
*
July
5, 2007
Seal
Alert-SA, Press Release, July 5, 2007
It is now the 5th day into
Namibia's baby seal cull. In an effort to halt the cull of
80 000 baby seals (right
now), Seal
Alert-SA releases a movie clip (Movie.wmv), Namibia Seal
Cull 2007. My apologies for the long-download, we made the
movie clip as short as possible (25 seconds), we know you
need to see this! It will be loaded on our websites . . . ,
and
www.sealalertsa.net
and
www.seashepherd.org
. We ask
others to distribute this movie clip freely, show the
world, and for someone to please load it on
youtube.
Movie
Innocence ! Baby Cape fur
seals in Namibia desperately appeal for your help and
protection - right Now ! Namibia has started clubbing
and stabbing 80 000 baby seals on Sunday, July 1, 2007.
Give them a chance in this new-life of theirs, they will
love you, suckle your ear, entertain you, be your friend
and forever thank you. Distribute this movie clip freely
worldwide. Boycott Namibian Tourism and anything Namibian,
until this stops. Write to everyone, including Namibian
Embassies in your country. The power of one starts with
you.
STOP THE NAMIBIAN 2007 BABY SEAL
SLAUGHTER - TODAY!
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
July 1, 2007
-----
Original Message -----
From:
Sealalert
To:
secretary@namibia.org.za
;
namibia@un.int
;
lmupetami@mweb.com.na
;
aiyambo@mfmr.gov.na
;
ambanga@mfmr.gov.na
;
pyako @deat.gov.za
;
Monde Mayekiso
;
mwillemse@deat.gov.za
;
Theressa Akkers
;
Beryl Batties
Cc:
jbell@ifaw.org
;
willem.wijnstekers@cites.org
;
jim.armstrong@cites.org
;
John.Sellar@cites.org
;
marie-france.barreto@cites.org
;
marceil.yeater@cites.org
;
stoffelf@pprotect.org
;
garyp@pprotect.org
;
LawrenceM@pprotect.pwv.gov.za
;
clenders@deat.gov.za
;
verne@nelsonmandela.org
;
akathrada@anc.org.za
;
dnel@wwf.org.za
;
augustyn@deat.gov.za
;
oosthuiz@deat.gov.za
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2007 12:33 PM
Subject: Declining Seal Populations, Ravaged by Starvation,
Blamed for Namibia's Doubled Fishery Capacity
Seal
Alert-SA Press Release, July 1 2007
Dear All Cape Fur Seal Supporters.
So many have written in asking what can we do to stop it?
The answer is simple. The stated seal population
figures are false.
We need to demand for the promised December
2006 pup
population survey results (the one that includes the mass
die-off last year) to be made public and independently
verified.
We do not want December 2005 figures for a 2007 seal
cull season.
South Africa who has collaborated on all past population
surveys with Namibia, must get involved and assist in
verifying the December 2006 population results.
Under the constitution the Minister of South Africa has a
constitutional obligation.
To avoid lengthy legal applications, we need instead the
power of you.
Write to Namibian Ministry and Minister van Schalkwyk to
authorise scientists at MCM and UCT researchers to verify,
contact the Public Protectors Office and ask them to
facilitate.
Remember if just a few react, nothing will transpire,
unless it is literally thousands of people demanding action
from Monday.
Demand equally that the Cull is halted until population for
2006 is verified.
In addition ask support from
anybody in Germany and the Netherlands to appeal to their
Parliament and Travel Agencies.
Above is the email addresses I
have for the relevant officials in Namibia and South
Africa. You need to find their fax numbers and telephone
numbers and phone them. I fear email letter will simply be
trashed, so fax and phone, please make the
effort.
Declining
Seal Populations, Ravaged by Starvation,
Blamed for
Namibia's Doubled Fishery Capacity 
Mass
burial of a declining seal population that is being
culled for its falsified over-population
Contrary
to the statements made by Information Minister Netumbo
Nandi-Ndaitwah on Wednesday just three days before awarding
a rolling three year culling seal quota of 80 000 pups
and 6000 bull seals, stating that "the sharp increase of
the seal population is endangering the fishing industries
current 600 000 tons fishery catch.
The opposite is directly
true. Since the mass die-off of seals in 1994, the fishing
industries doubling of capacity from 300 000 tons to 600
000 tons of fish landings over the past decade and a half,
has devastated seal populations, in sharp decline since its
peak in 1993. Causing at least 6 major mass die-offs of the
seal population, recorded in 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001
and again just last year. Where over fifty per cent of the
seals starved to death in each incident.
South African Marine
Scientists place the Namibian seal population at 163 141
pups in 2004, down from a high of 219 141 pups in 1993.
It is simply ludicrous to
claim, that even after the last mass die-off (2006),
acknowledged by the Namibian Fisheries, that this
endangered seal population, still in decline from its
high in 1993 and recovering from the 1994 mass die-off,
where last year over fifty per cent of the seals died. That
the Namibian seal population assessed for December 2005,
for the 2007 sealing quota has reached the highest
population level on record of 205 500 pups, as falsely
claimed.
Where is the promised
December 2006 population survey (the one that would take
into account the mass die-off)? Why would the Ministry
reduce the quota from 85 000 pups to 80 000 pups, if
truthfully the seals population had increased from last
years supplied population figures of 185 000 pups to 205
500 pups?
Already listed as an
endangered species in 1977, whose survival according to its
Appendix II Convention In Trade of Endangered Species
(CITES) listing requires that their survival is dependent
upon sound conservation measures. Namibia has doubled
fishery capacity and embarked on an annual cull of its seal
population.
Illogically on many
aspects this makes no sense. The United Nations and
Greenpeace released reports stating, since the 1990s
enhanced sophistication of fishing technology have
increased fishing capacity by 22%. Global fishing fleet
capacity is double the sustainable supply. Calls are made
for a 50 per cent reduction in fishing capacity. 34% of
global fisheries is non-food use in domestic animal,
livestock and aquaculture feeds. 70% of the world's fish
stocks are fully or over exploited.
Ignoring this
recommendation, which would have seen Namibia reduce its
fishing capacity from 300 000 tons to 150 000 tons, to
maintain sustainability of the environment for all, humans
and seals, required under its own constitution. Namibia
instead quadruples its fishing capacity for the next decade
and a half and then when it collapses, blames declining
seal populations, who themselves are ravaged by repeated
starvation, threatening their survival.
Even ignoring their own
beliefs, Namibia seal culling policy, exempts fish eating
seals of all age groups, including the breeding females,
and instead embarks on an annual mass slaughter, via
clubbing of its baby nursing seal pups, who by definition
are non-fish eaters and are still drinking mothers milk,
whose slaughter will have no positive impact of fisheries.
To simply maintain this
deceit, Namibian Ministry simply falsifies seal population
data, which has never been independently verified, and
continues to project an increasing seal population and
therefore an increased sealing quota. All of which is pure
fabrication.
Seal Alert-SA appeals
urgently for the 2007 seal cull to be halted, the December
2006 promised pup population survey results be released,
and most importantly be independently verified by
the South African scientists. Reminding our Minister
van Schalkwyk of the findings of the Commission on Sealing
in 1990 (which saw South Africa stop its culling
policy), in which it was established that the Namibian
and South African seals are one population, and that as per
the Public Protector findings and recommendations, our
Minister has a constitutional obligation to protect and
promote the conservation of the Cape fur seal
species.
After a quadrupled fishing
capacity for the past decade, and now its collapse. It
cannot be reasonable argued that the surviving seals
already ravaged by starvation are consuming more fish than
the modern sophistication of Namibia's doubled fishing
fleet capacity.
An urgent call is made, for the
cull to stop and the December 2006 seal population
independently verified.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
27-21-790 8774
For further insight into past transgressions, see below.
Three days before the
start of the Namibian baby seal cull, which started
today on Sunday July 1, Information Minister
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah whilst admitting that there was
a major mass die-off of seals and pups from starvation due
to overfishing during last years sealing season, announces
just a 6% reduction in the baby seal cull quota. Awarding
sealers the rights to club 80 000 pups and 6000 bulls,
down from last year of 85 000 and 6000 bulls. In addition,
awards sealers a three-year rolling seal cull quota for
2007, 2008 and 2009.
Ignoring the factual
comments of one sealing rights holder who confirmed that
the seal mortality in 2006 matched that of the 1994
disaster year (half the population starved to death) or
that since Namibian independence in 1990, sealers have been
unable to fill government set quotas averaging less than
66% of the quota. Most importantly, ignoring Fisheries
Minister's announcement in 2006 imposing a 5 year
moratorium on new fishing rights, of which two of the three
sealing rights holders, rights expire end 2007.
Last year, when announcing
that the seal cull quota was being increased from 65 000
pups (2005) to 85 000 (pups), a 30% increase. Acting
Permanent Secretary Mr Amutse acknowledged (based on the
most recent scientific information available)
that the seal population in 2006 estimated at 185
000 pups and 700 000 adults, had only recovered to 73%
compared to the 1993 level, 12 years after the mass
die-off in 1994.
Ignoring Permanent Secretary
Nangula Mbako comment in October 2006 to execute
an aerial survey for December 2006 to determine pup
numbers. Information Minister Nandi-Ndaitwah supplies
alleged seal population for December 2005, of 205 500 pups
and 650 000 adults (before last years mass die-off in
2006). Claiming as the motive for Namibia's
continued seal culling policy is the sharp increase of this
endangered seal population who is endangering the fishing
industry because seals kill 900 000 tons of fish each year.
Namibia claims its Seal Harvesting is
conducted in line with the principles of sustainable
management. The Oxford English Dictionary
defines, Sustainable - "able to be sustained -
avoiding depletion of natural resources". Twelve years ago
(1993) the Namibian seal population peaked at 219 141
pups. To which Namibia set a sealing quota of 50 850 seals.
Sealers were only able to harvest 35 750 seals (70% of
quota). The following year a mass die-off reduced the seal
population by 50 per cent. Two years later (1995), only 83
230 pups were born (62% decline since the peak in 1993).
Namibia awarded then a substantially reduced sealing quota
of 17 450 pups.
Ignoring the effects of decline these
two mass die-offs (1994 and 2006) would scientifically have
on the seal population (in fact there have been several
publicly recorded mass die-offs, 1994, 1995, 1996,
2000, 2001 and last year in 2006. Information Minister
Nandi-Ndaitwah claims the Namibian seal population has
reached its highest level ever at 205 500 pups.
The absurdity of this claim (of the
sharply increasing seal population) is further compounded
when prior to Namibia's independence in 1990. The United
Nations and Greenpeace released reports stating,
since the 1990s enhanced sophistication of fishing
technology have increased fishing capacity by 22%. Global
fishing fleet capacity is double the sustainable supply.
Calls are made for a 50 per cent reduction in fishing
capacity. 34% of global fisheries is non-food use in
domestic animal, livestock and aquaculture feeds. 70% of
the world's fish stocks are fully or over exploited.
*
. * . *
Seal Alert-SA
Press Release 30 June 2006
Namibia
Doubles Fishery Catch and Culls Endangered Seals
to Increase Fishing
Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA responds to Namibia's 80 000
seal pup three-year rolling seal cull quota. Starting
on July 1.
Contrary to world
fishing trends, the least populated country on earth,
doubles fishing catch landings and culls endangered seals
to increase fishing capacity.
According to
Greenpeace and UN Food and Agricultural Organization
reports. Since the 1990s enhanced sophistication of fishing
technology have increased fishing capacity by 22%. Global
fishing fleet capacity is double the sustainable supply.
Calls are made for a 50 per cent reduction in fishing
capacity. 34% of global fisheries is non-food use in
domestic animal, livestock and aquaculture feeds. 70% of
the world's fish stocks are fully or over exploited.
Namibia contends that
650 000 adult seals annual fish consumption is 900 000
tonnes. Whereas Namibian fishing industry landings are 600
000 tonnes. As the motive for their annual cull of
seals.
Distribution range of
the Cape fur seals occurs between South Africa and Namibia.
South Africa with a
population of 50 million humans, it has since the 1990s
with a no cull seal policy, for the past decade landed 540
000 tonnes of fish on average annually. Since 2004,
South Africa's fishing policy is legislated to ensure
sufficient availability of food for seals and seabirds in
the wild to sustain populations.
Namibia claims its
annual cull of seals is in line with the principles of
sustainable management as contained in the Namibian
constitution which allows for the sustainable use of living
natural resources.
The Oxford English
Dictionary states. Sustainable - "able to be sustained -
avoiding depletion of natural resources".
Cape fur seals are listed on
Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES). Species on Appendix II are not
threatened with extinction, but their survival is dependent
on conservation measures.
Last year, the Namibian
Ministry of Fisheries acknowledged that the Namibian seal
population in 2006, had still not recovered from the seal
mortality 1994 disaster year. Where half the seal
population starved to death. Proceeded to increase the
sealing quota from 65 000 pups to 85 000. Two months into
sealing season which runs from July to November,
acknowledged that the 2006 seal mortality matched that of
the 1994 disaster year from starvation.
Sealers reported no more
seals to kill, where forced to bury the dead
seals, and as such sealing season ended early, without
quotas being filled.
Namibia, the least populated
country on earth with less than 2 million humans, was prior
to independence in 1990. Landing annual fish catches of 300
000 tonnes. Although international calls were
made for a 50 per cent reduction in the fishing capacity.
Namibia proceeded to double its annual fish catch to
600 000 tonnes. Landing more fish than South Africa with
its 50 million human population.
As a result, Cape fur seals
in Namibia have suffered several mass seal mortalities via
starvation reducing the seal population to levels last seen
in the early 1980s.
Promises of a Namibian population
survey for December 2006 to determine the pup mortality
numbers prior to awarding a 2007 sealing quota, never
materialised. Instead the Seal Population in December
2005 was supplied (which is prior to last years mass seal
pup mortality disaster year). A 80 000 seal pup and
6000 seal bull quota, rolling for three years, was then
announced for the 2007 sealing-year.
Namibia's claims of 900 000 tonnes of
fish consumption by seals in a perfect world
and sustainable fishing environment. But, as Namibia
has doubled its fishing capacity during the last decade,
and as a result over 50 per cent of the seal population is
dying annually. The belief, that foraging seals can compete
against the sophistication of fishing technology today is
false.
Moreover, Namibia's policy of a
reduction of the seal population to increase fishery catch
is absurd, considering that all age groups of foraging
seals, including the breeding cow female seals, are all
exempt from any cull, and instead nursing baby seals,
suckling on mothers milk (non-fish eaters), account for 90%
of the sealing cull quota.
Seal Alert-SA calls for an immediate end
to Namibia's Seal Cull policy, and immediate reduction of
50% in Namibia's fisheries, and calls on the international
community to respond.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
* . * .
*
Date: June
28, 2007
Ignoring
Namibia mass death of seals, Namibia increases quota for
three years
Dear All Cape
fur seal supporters,
We all tried very hard, and failed
badly. Clubbing of 80 000 nursing baby, suckling on mothers
milk (non-fishing eating) seal pups will start on
Sunday, July 1, and continue for the next 139
days, and this will apply for a three-year rolling
quota. In addition, sealers will go after seals that have
fled away from the two big sealing colonies.
Unbelievable as it sounds, after
Ministry researchers confirmed the seals experienced their
7th mass mortality from starvation (involving as much as
half the seal population), sealers unable to fill last
year's quota. Stopped sealing to bury 900 pups a day. The
seal population grew from 185 000 pups to 205 500.
Strangely although a factor of 3.7 - 4 is always used to
multiply the pups to arrive at the total population.
Namibia Ministry claims adult seal numbers declined from
700 000 to 650 000, but produced more pups.
Even stranger, marine scientists
in South Africa put Namibian seal population at 163 141 in
2004, down from 196 689 in 1990.
Namibia wants us to believe,
that after South Africa stopped seal culling 14-years
ago, and the population has not increased. That with
mass die-offs and the highest sealing quotas, the seal
population only in Namibia, has increased from 163 141 pups
in 2004 to 205 500 pups in December 2005.
Ignoring the US baby seal import
ban since 1971, or Mexico, Croatia, Belgium, Italy and most
recently Germany and Holland.
Ignoring their our Minister's
moratorium on new fishing rights, ignoring that two of the
three sealers right end 2007.
Namibia plans a total extinction
of the Cape fur seals in Namibia. Clearly pointing out over
and over again, that seals consume 900 000 tonnes of fish
and the fishing industry only lands between 500 000 and 600
000 tonnes. Whilst the seals did not cause Namibia's
fisheries to collapse >from highs of 1 500 000 tonnes
(30 years ago), clearly Namibia now believes for fisheries
to get back to harvesting 1,5 million tonnes, seals must
go. Clearly every single fish a seal eats (even though half
their diet is non-commercial fish species), is one fish to
many for Namibia.
Even stranger, the quota is 90% pup
based (80 000), who as nursing pups still suckling on
mothers milk, pose no threat to fish consumption. So whilst
all other age groups of fish-eating seals are exempt,
including all breeding females. Namibia and its sealers
will continue to allow breeding cows to mate, raise their
baby for 7-months, whilst consuming fish to then harvest
them, to protect fish stocks.
So when will Namibia stop. Never,
because with this banana republic logic, seals will go the
same way as Namibia's fisheries. Down, down, down.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
From the "Namibian":
Thursday, June 28, 2007 - Web posted at 8:33:14 GMT
Seal quota
down for this season
BRIGITTE WEIDLICH
CABINET has approved an annual seal quota of 80 000 pups
and 6 000 bulls for the new culling season, which starts on
Sunday.
The same quota will apply for 2008 and 2009.
Last year's mass die-off of seal pups was an indication
that the quota should be reduced from previous years, when
the quota was higher, Information Minister Netumbo
Nandi-Ndaitwah said yesterday.
"The three-year rolling annual quota shall only be adjusted
if there is a major improvement or reduction in the stock,"
she said.
The seal harvesting season is from July 1 to November 15
each year.
"Cabinet also advised the Ministry of Fisheries to consider
granting exploratory rights as part of the total allowable
catches (TAC) to harvest only pups on smaller existing
nearby colonies," the Information Minister told reporters.
The Marine Resources Advisory Council met on May 31 to set
the seal quota.
Cabinet further approved that no selective harvesting of
pups would be allowed.
According to a 2005 Government survey which is disputed by
international animal rights groups, seals allegedly consume
more fish per year than the entire fishing industry can
catch.
A seal population survey conducted in December 2005
indicated a total count of 205 500 pups and 650 000 adults.
Harvested colonies at Cape Cross, Atlas Bay and Wolf Bay
represent 60 per cent of the total pup population in
Namibia, while non-harvested land-based and island colonies
each represents 20 per cent.
During 2006, the total annual fish consumption by seals was
estimated to be up to 900 000 tonnes, according to the
Government survey.
The total annual landings of the Namibian fishing industry
are between 500 000 and 600 000 tonnes per year.
"This means that seals are consuming far more fish than
what are caught by the commercial fleet.
Furthermore, the major part of the biomass of Namibia's
hake and pilchard stocks currently comprises small fish,
which are of the size that are typically consumed by
seals," Minister Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
"Cabinet resolved that mitigating mechanisms be worked out
by the Fisheries Ministry and the industry to reduce seal
predation of hake and other species."
* . * .
*
Date:
June 25, 2007
SealAlert-SA
Press Release : June 25, 2007
5
days to go to the start of Namibia's Annual Baby Seal Cull,
the largest cull of Endangered Wildlife and the second
largest Seal Harvest in the World.
SEE BELOW : Why Namibia Must Stop This Cull.
"The Sickest
and Most Sadistic Use
of Endangered Marine Wildlife,
Yet Witnessed"
Francois
Hugo Seal Alert-SA
Thousands
of seal pups wash ashore starved to death, seal
corpses lie rotting and starving & seals coming
ashore
are ridden over by passing vehicles
Namibian
beaches littered with tens of thousands of dead and rotting
seal corpses last year, is clearly not good for
Namibia's Tourism Industry or Namibia's Wildlife
Conservation image. Instead of appealing for
international assistance, Fisheries Minister Iyambo
increases sealing quota, orders sealers to bury
the dead, and kill the remaining baby seal pups struggling
to survive.
With these catastrophic
environmental, collapsed fisheries and global warming
factors effecting these Cape fur seals so badly, why is
Namibia undertaking a cull of such massive portions on an
already endangered wildlife species?
Listed in 1977, as an
endangered Appendix II species by the UN Environmental
Protection Convention In Trade of Endangered Species
(CITES), Namibian Minister of Fisheries Abraham Iyambo
announced an increased culling pup quota from 60 000 to 85
000 nursing baby seal pups for 2006. The world's largest
cull of endangered animals, and the second largest seal
cull in the world.
In response to Seal
Alert-SA's public protests and letters of condemnation last
year, the Ministry of Fisheries issued an official reply
and press release, stating "Seal Culling is done in a
responsible and sustainable manner. According to the latest
biological information, the seal stock in Namibia is
currently in a healthy condition. The Cape fur seal
population is not in anyway endangered. The seal population
has enjoyed an overall recovery rate to 27% below the 1993
level in 2006".
What seal pup culling quota
the Fisheries Minister will set, days away for July 1,
remains a mystery for the 2007 seal culling season?
Promises of a 2006 population survey have too, not
materialised.
Half-way
through last year's seal culling season (2006), and
the second largest seal harvest in the world, the
Republiken Newspaper in Namibia carried an interview with
one of the three sealing concessionaires, Mr Gys Cilliers
of Seal Products. "When we started the harvesting season in
July, the seals were already skinny", "Confirming that the
mass seal starvation mortality matched that of the 1994
disaster year" (in which one half of the seal population
died and starved to death). "Harvesting season had to be
suspended, in order for beaches to be cleaned and for the
dead to be buried". "Bull seals are so weak they just
lie on the beach, they are too weak to get
up". "Culling season for baby pups had ended early,
there simply are not any more pups to kill".
Last year's mass starvation
of the Cape fur seals, marks the 7th such incident recorded
since 1988. Clearly overfishing, banned from islands and
global environmental factors are having a
disastrous effect on the future survival of this
already endangered species. Yet, Namibia has
maintained an annual seal population reduction cull since
independence in 1990.
An industry, so small that
only three sealing concessionaires via for concessions for
the largest cull of endangered animals and the second
largest seal harvest in the world, where less than USD $2
is earned per skin and carcass, respectively. Where total
Namibian Seal Exports earn less than USD $150 000.
Ministry of Fisheries on 9
October 2006, issues a second press release - headed,
"Current Seal Mortalities Along the Namibian Coast".
"Namibian researchers has shown that seal adult males and
females are depicting reduced weight and their condition is
very poor. Sub adults seals have also been observed dead
along the coast. These studies revealed that the 2006
winter pup growth rate has declined from a long-term
average of 30g/day to 2g/day. It also found over 50% of the
seal pups, who were not getting enough milk from their
mothers, are below a threshold of post weaning survival of
11kg. Numerous pups are dying or the surviving ones body
weight are very reduced. Researchers have also seen aborted
pups along the shore, which is a consequence of
lactating pregnant mothers not having enough food to
support the born and unborn pups".
In an official response to
Seal Alert-SA's question, if a seal cull is necessary (due
to your claimed health and over-population of this
endangered species), why then is the obvious choice for a
cull, the breeding females always exempt. Namibian Ministry
replied, "Female seals give birth to a single pup in
December. All adult female seals are either nursing a
newborn pup or are pregnant during the seal-harvesting
season. Therefore harvesting of female seals would endanger
the life of the new born and the unborn pups".
"The Sickest
and Most Sadistic Use of Endangered Marine Wildlife, Yet
Witnessed" - Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
Seals
Buried in Mass Beach Graves and Still The Rounding-up and
Clubbing Continued of Dying Baby Seals
Can you just
for a moment imagine (pity as Namibia has banned filming),
whilst the seals were enduring their seventh mass mortality
from starvation since 1988, beaches littered with dead and
dying seal corpses, pups too weak to move or run away,
bulls so weak that they could not stand. Faced the sealers
onslaught for the next 139 days. In something that can only
be considered the sickest act in marine wildlife
harvesting, instead of sealers utilising the carcasses of
the recently dead for their pelts, these were instead
buried in mass beach graves, and still then sealers ran
after, rounded up and clubbed to death those baby nursing
seal pups barely still alive, in their maddening attempt to
fill their largest quota set by government, that as they
have admitted, had no chance of being filled.
Namibian
Minister of Fisheries Abraham Iyambo - "If Culling Seals Is
A Problem - Namibians Should Develop A Taste for
Eating Them"
Why Namibia
Must End Its Seal Culling Policy :
- The Cape fur seal species, the only species of seal found breeding on the whole African continent, is endangered. The 173 member countries of the UN/Cites Convention disagree with Namibia's claim that this species of seal is not. Having listed Cape fur seals under their Appendix II listing of Endangered Species since 1977, since sealers previously caused the almost extinction by 1900 of this species, of which ninety-nine percent of their former habitat (islands) still remains extinct.
- The Seal stock in Namibia, is clearly not healthy. Having endured several mass mortalities from starvation since 1988. Where in each incident one third to one half of the population starved to death, reducing the population by fifty percent each time. Namibian researchers themselves admit, that the seal population has still not recovered >from the 1994 mass starvation incident, thirteen years later, and is still 27% the 1993 population level in 2006.
- In the eyes of the international community, Namibia annual seal culling policy, 90% of which is baby nursing seal pup based is illegal. Banned from import into the US since 1971, and Mexico. Baby seal imports banned by the whole 27-member countries of the European Union since 1983. Banned in the sealing regulations in the remaining sealing countries of Canada, Greenland, Russia and Norway in 1987. Even South Africa stopped is sealing policy on the same species in 1990. Recently Italy, Belgium, Germany and most recently Netherlands, have all specifically banned Cape fur seal imports into their countries.
- A cull is a scientific conservation term used to reduce a wildlife population on a once-off method in a given restricted area (like the proposed South Africa Elephant cull in the Kruger National Park). It should therefore have no basis for an annual commercial activity in an open marine eco-system.
- Just as the Namibian Minister has admitted that a cull on the breeding females is not possible, as it would endanger the life of the new born and unborn pups, so too should common-sense prevail, that sealers endanger not only the life of the nursing baby seals (during their clubbed slaughter), but all ages groups of seals are disturbed during the 139-day harvesting process, effecting breeding behaviour of these seals in their nursing/breeding grounds.
- Namibia claims to abide by an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. 90% of the seal culling quota is nursing seal pup based, who as non-fish consumers (still suckling on mothers milk), pose no threat to collapsed fisheries, or in those cull would benefit fisheries in anyway during the culling year, or years ahead.
- Namibia's claimed fish consumption by seals is irrelevant as the cull is 90% pup based, who are not fish-eaters, in addition fifty-percent of foraging seals diet consists of non-commercial fish species.
- Professor John Hanks (WorldWildlifeFund) of the Chairman of the Commission on Sealing held in South Africa in 1990, advised the Ministers of the southern Africa region, that there is no biological distinction between the South Africa and Namibian Cape fur seal population, and as such recommended that the seal population be managed as one population. South Africa stopped its seal culling policy in 1990, and after 17-years, no increase in the seal population has been recorded. Findings of the Office of the Public Protector have found that under South Africa's Constitution, our Minister has an obligation to promote and protect the conservation of the Cape fur seal species.
PLEASE THEREFORE FW THIS TO ANYONE YOU THINK COULD HELP, PLEASE !
Namibian Minister of Fisheries Abraham Iyambo
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
