McCartney calls for ban on seal products

Paul McCartney criticised Canada's annual seal hunt yesterday and asked animal lovers around the world to pressure the European Union to ban seal products.

The EU is accepting public comments on the proposed ban until February 13, and the former Beatle said it is a chance for people everywhere to help end the commercial slaughter of seals.

"Like me, you've probably seen the horrifying images of helpless baby seals being beaten and shot for their fur," McCartney said.

"Wounded seals left to suffer in agony. Conscious pups sliced open. And the reason for their pain? So that someone can sell their fur."

McCartney and his estranged wife, Heather Mills, travelled to the harp seal nursery on the Gulf of St Lawrence in 2006 to protest against the annual hunt.

The spring hunt is important to the livelihood of Canadian seal hunters and Aboriginal peoples.

Fishermen sell seal pelts mostly for the fashion industry in Norway, Russia and China, as well as blubber for oil, earning about US$78 (€52.48) per seal.

McCartney said a ban on the trade of all seal products in the EU could spell the end of many commercial seal hunts.

He said that if the hunt does end, governments should find employment alternatives for seal hunters and compensate them for lost income.

"A European Union ban on all seal product trade would force nations where seal hunting has taken place to invest in real alternatives - jobs that will provide safe and sustainable futures," he said.