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Canadian Coast Guard Rams Sea Shepherd Ship (twice)

Sea Shepherd Supporter | 31.03.2008 09:21 | Animal Liberation | Ecology | Ocean Defence | World

The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Des Groseilliers twice rammed the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship Farley Mowat today. The Sea Shepherd is present at the baby seal hunt to document the killings. Witnessing a seal being clubbed is a crime in Canada.

The Coast Guard had ordered the Farley Mowat to not approach the area where seals are being slaughtered. When the Farley Mowat did not comply, the Coast Guard rammed the vessel near the port aft stern area. After the Farley Mowat stopped in the ice, the Coast Guard rammed the ship a second time in the same area of the ship causing damage to the plates in that area.

The Coast Guard has demonstrated extreme recklessness with this move. The crew of the Farley Mowat were engaged in documenting the slaughter of seals. They were not interfering with the hunt. The annual slaughter of baby harp seals has started off the east coast of Canada in Newfoundland last week. The slaughter of over 325.000 baby seals has been widely condemned around the world, but the Canadian government is ademend in its continued support for it.

Canadian Coastguard Ramming The Farley Mowat
Canadian Coastguard Ramming The Farley Mowat

Canada Is Trying To Prevent The Sea Shepherd Crew From Documenting The Killings
Canada Is Trying To Prevent The Sea Shepherd Crew From Documenting The Killings


“I’m beginning to wonder if anyone on the bridge of the Groseilliers has a license to command a ship,” said Captain Alex Cornelissen. “The incompetence of the Coast Guard has already cost the lives of four sealers this week-end and now they are ramming ships in dangerous ice conditions. This is unbelievable. It’s like the Coast Guard has declared war on seal defenders and the sealers are collateral damage.”

The Farley Mowat will remain in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and will continue to document the atrocities on the ice. Already the crew have seen enough evidence to understand that the Canadian government’s pretense that the slaughter is humane has no basis in reality – in other words it’s a state sponsored lie.

“It appears that Canada is prepared to use violence to cover-up the truth of this slaughter,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Our duty is to resist their violence and continue to document the truth.”

Sea Shepherd Supporter
- Homepage: http://www.seashepherd.org/

Comments

Display the following 5 comments

  1. I thought you were exaggerating about the illegal to witness bit — distant observer
  2. sea sheppard lies — keith burke
  3. Lies? Proof wanted — Chris
  4. Baby seals? — Steven
  5. Re: white coast — conservationist