Hinweis zum Urheberrecht
Bericht / Forschungsbericht / Abhandlung zugänglich unter
URL: https://epub.sub.uni-hamburg.de/epub/volltexte/2009/1637/
Improving Humane Practice in the Canadian Harp Seal Hunt. A Report of the Independent Veterinarians’ Working Group on the Canadian Harp Seal Hunt
Smith, Bruce
| Originalveröffentlichung: |
| (2005) http://ivwgonline.org/IVWGReportAug2005.pdf |
| pdf-Format:
|
|
|
| BK - Klassifikation: |
| 48.67 |
| Sondersammelgebiete: |
| 21.3 Küsten- und Hochseefischerei |
| DDC-Sachgruppe: |
| Biowissenschaften, Biologie |
| Dokumentart: |
| Bericht / Forschungsbericht / Abhandlung |
| Sprache: |
| Englisch |
| Erstellungsjahr: |
| 2005 |
| Publikationsdatum: |
| 18.05.2009 |
| Kurzfassung auf Deutsch: |
| The Independent Veterinarians’ Working Group (IVWG) on the Canadian Harp
Seal Hunt was formed in May 2005 to contribute to the promotion of animal
welfare, and to minimize or eliminate animal suffering within the context of the
hunt.
The Canadian harp seal hunt is a highly competitive activity. It is carried out by a
large number of hunters, over an extensive area, in a short period of time, and
monitored by a relatively small number of regulators.
An information meeting with sealers, industry representatives, government
managers, scientists and the Working Group was held on May 26, 2005. The
Group received information about seal population biology in the context of the
hunt; the industry: past, present and future; sealing methods; and management and
enforcement. At that meeting sealers asked the members of the working group to
assist them in improving humane practice.
On May 27-28 the IVWG met in camera to discuss the hunt, and to develop
recommendations regarding animal welfare. The Group determined that, if
carried out by a trained and skilled individual, a three-step method of stunning,
checking and bleeding seals can result in rapid, irreversible loss of consciousness,
and death, and thus can be a humane process.
This report discusses a range of factors and issues related to the hunt, and makes
eleven recommendations to the sealers, industry and regulators.
Specific recommendations:
• The three steps in the humane killing process -- stunning, checking that the skull
is crushed (to ensure irreversible loss of consciousness or death), and bleeding --
should be carried out in sequence as rapidly as possible.
• Confirmation of irreversible loss of consciousness or death should be done by
checking by palpation that the skull is crushed, rather than checking the absence of
corneal (blink) reflex.
• A seal should not be shot in the water, or in any circumstance when it is possible
the carcass cannot be recovered.
Improving Humane Practice in the Canadian Harp Seal Hunt August 2005 2
• Bleeding to achieve or ensure death, following stunning, is an important element
in the three-step humane killing process. The Marine Mammal Regulations should
be amended to replace the requirement for death to occur before bleeding, with a
requirement for unconsciousness before bleeding.
General recommendations:
• Reducing the competitive nature of the hunt can result in improved animal
welfare, better compliance and enforcement, and a safer work environment.
• The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) should take steps to
improve supervision, monitoring and enforcement, including the training of
officers.
• Individuals should receive training before they are licensed as hunters, and
periodic upgrading should be required.
• Sealers would benefit from strong professional associations that support and
promote humane practices.
• Research and observation should be undertaken on a regular and systematic basis.
• Industry should continue to strive for full utilization of each seal killed.
• It is important for observers to work in collaboration with sealers.
The Working Group identified a number of areas in which research should be
carried out. These include: possible refinement of the hakapik, bleed-out time, the
swimming reflex and assessment of gunner accuracy. Research and observation
effort should be increased at the Front.
The IVWG intends to continue working together toward the goal of promoting
animal welfare by minimizing or eliminating suffering in the Canadian harp seal
hunt. The Group will be represented at the Fall 2005 management forum, and
hopes to observe the 2006 hunt. |
