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
www.sealalert.org
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 (http://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
www.sealalert.org
* . * .
*
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
www.sealalert.org
+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
www.sealalert.org
* . * . *
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, www.sealalert.org 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
www.sealalert.org
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