Thank you for your email concerning the opinion of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) on the proposal for a regulation regarding trade in seal products and its total ban by the Rapporteur
First of all, it is important to distinguish between the broad-based slaughter of seals outside the EU and the traditional hunt in moderate extent in the Nordic countries of the EU like Inuits do. Within the EU, seal hunting is already subject to strict and detailed regulation covering participation, hunting seasons, vessels and methods of slaughtering. In addition, there are quotas set. Calculated by specialists these quotas ensure that the overall seal population continues to thrive.
In order to protect the seal population the broad-based commercial slaughter of seals is to repress. At the same time it is important to take the consensus on an important exception into consideration: As Inuit people make a living of hunting seals they shall further on have the chance to hunt these animals in a controlled way. I am convinced that this regulation is a balanced solution regarding the seals and their habitat as well as the indigenous people.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Richard Seeber
