Newfoundland and Labrador government and sealing industry representatives will join industry supporters from across the country on Parliament Hill to ensure that the truths of the industry are delivered and heard during the anti-sealing annual global day of protest. The Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, will lead the provincial delegation of over 20 Newfoundland and Labrador sealing industry representatives to Ottawa on Thursday, March 15.

"Every year at the opening of the seal harvest in Atlantic Canada, anti-sealing protesters gather on Parliament Hill to spread fallacies and misinformation regarding the annual seal fishery. Our delegation will join industry representatives, as well as officials of the Government of Nunavut, to deliver the facts regarding this humane and sustainable renewable resource," said Minister Rideout.

"Animal rights advocates have used inaccuracies regarding the seal harvest and blatant propaganda to gain financial support for many years to run their operations. We will not apologize for conducting a harvest that has found by independent veterinarians to be one of the most humane wild harvests in the world, and I am pleased to lead this delegation," said the minister.

This counter-demonstration event, referred to as Up the Anti, has been organized by the Fur Institute of Canada. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is a sponsor of the Up the Anti event, along with the Government of Nunavut and the sealing industry, with the support of many other organizations. The province is contributing approximately $36,000 in support of this event.

"The seal harvest remains an integral part of our rural economy," continued Minister Rideout. "It provides direct annual employment for over 6,000 people per year in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2006, the production value reached $55 million. We have been very proactive in spreading the truths of the industry, and this is another example of our efforts. The time has come to take a stand in defense of a sustainable harvest around which many people in our province have sustained themselves for over 500 years."

More than 150 sealing industry supporters and stakeholders are expected to participate in the Up the Anti event.

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Media contact:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca

2007 03 14                                                   9:30 a.m.