Principal Buyer of Canadian Seal Skins Subsidized by
Govt. to Burn Pelts
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 17:55:43 -0700
This information begs to be posted everywhere!
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Principal Buyer of Canadian Seal Skins Subsidized by
Government To Burn Pelts
June 7, 2006
WASHINGTON The Humane Society of the United States
today reacted to news that a Norwegian company has
destroyed 10,000 harp seal skins, commenting that the
revelation contradicts claims of strong markets for
seal products.
Norwegian media outlets reported last week that the
top buyer of Canadian seal pelts, Norwegian based GC
Rieber, was paid by the Norwegian government to
destroy 10,000 harp seal skins. GC Rieber is
considered the economic backbone of the Canadian
sealing industry, each year buying 50 to 80 percent of
the skins from seals killed during the annual seal
hunt in Canada. Slain Canadian seals account for more
than 90 percent of Riebers seal skin business.
For years weve suspected some form of price rigging
through hidden government subsidies now we have
proof, said Rebecca Aldworth, director of Canadian
wildlife issues for The Humane Society of the United
States. These revelations demonstrate that the
Canadian seal hunt, in addition to being cruel and
inhumane, is also economically unjustified.
GC Rieber purchases sealskins through its Newfoundland
subsidiary, Carino, and has repeatedly claimed that
the demand for seal products is so strong they cannot
match supply. However, a recent media report revealed
that the Norwegian government has paid Rieber 2
million Norwegian kroner (about $370,000 CAD/ $330,000
USD) to burn 10,000 excess Norwegian harp seal skins.
The Norwegian harp seal skins were obtained from
sealers, who had also received major government
subsidies (2.5 million Norwegian kroner) to kill the
seals. The Norwegian government justified the burning
of the skins, indicating it was impossible to find
markets for the harp seal pelts.
Animal protection groups and trade specialists have
questioned the repeated claims of strong sealskin
markets made by Rieber in recent years.
In 2000, the markets were so weak that Carino stopped
buying seal skins halfway through the season, and
sealers returning from the hunt dumped their seal
skins into the ocean because they were worthless,
said Aldworth. Just a few years later, Carino is
claiming their sales are the strongest theyve ever
been even as major European markets are closing.
--30 --
The Humane Society of the United States is the
nations largest animal protection organization with
more than 9.5 million members and constituents. The
HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active
programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness
and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine
mammals, animals in research, equine protection, and
farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals
through education, investigation, litigation,
legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit
organization is based in Washington and has field
representatives and offices across the country. On the
web at www.hsus.org
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