Canadian Coast Guard Rams Sea Shepherd Ship (twice)

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

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

Hide the following 5 comments

I thought you were exaggerating about the illegal to witness bit

31.03.2008 21:26

But if you google - Witnessing a seal being clubbed is a crime in Canada - there is the proof many times over. Unbelievable level of censorship

distant observer

sea sheppard lies

01.04.2008 09:18

The sea sheppard made the contact with the coast guard, these guys are known for this

keith burke

Lies? Proof wanted

01.04.2008 17:16

keith burke, please provide evidence for your unsubstantianted claim that Sea Shepherd are lying, and furthermore 'known for this'. Should you be unable to provide such evidence we can only presume that it is you doing the lying for reasons best known to yourself.

Incidentally, it is 'Shepherd', not 'Sheppard' - I know spelling can be difficult for some.

Chris

Baby seals?

29.04.2008 04:26

My father used to hunt baby seals (white coats) about 25 years ago. That was the last year that they were allowed to kill baby seals. There are no white coats being killed anymore. I just wish that people would get their facts straight before they go to the media and start spreading lies. The seal hunt is a part of our heritage and a vital part of our economy.

Steven
mail e-mail: steve_knee@hotmail.com

Re: white coast

10.05.2008 13:08

Hi Steven,

Just because a harp seal looses its white coats doesn't mean they cease to be a 'baby'. Harp seals reach puberty at 5–7 years, and their maximum lifespan is more than 30 years. Baby seals, whether white coated or not are unable to swim or find food for the first 1-2 months of their lives, leaving them vulnerable in this period of helplessness as infants.

Most baby seals are born typically in late February and the annual seal hunt off the coast of Newfoundland happens each year in late March.

Get the facts.

conservationist