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Bioforsk Report Vol. 6 Nr. 35 2011 International management of seal Innovations for a new seal market Preliminary Project Liv Jorunn Hind Bioforsk Nord – Tjøtta Hovedkontor/Head office Bioforsk Nord Frederik A. Dahls vei 20 Tjøtta N-1432 Ås 8860 Tjøtta Tel.: (+47) 40 60 41 00 Tel.: (+47) 40 60 41 00 [email protected] [email protected] Tittel/Title: International management of seal – Innovations for a new seal market. Preliminary Project. Forfatter(e)/Author(s): Liv Jorunn Hind Dato/Date: Tilgjengelighet/Availability: Prosjekt nr./Project No.: Saksnr./Archive No.: 07.03.2011 Open 4210140 Rapport nr./Report No.: ISBN-nr./ISBN-no: Antall sider/Number of Antall vedlegg/Number pages: of appendices: 6(35)2011 978-82-17-00765-4 17 1 Oppdragsgiver/Employer: Kontaktperson/Contact person: Nordisk Atlantsamarbejde (NORA) Lars Thostrup Stikkord/Keywords: Fagområde/Field of work: Sel, fangst, jakt, importforbud, EU, Norge, Arktisk landbruk og utmark Island, Grønland, innovasjon, samarbeid. Seal, sealing, hunt, import ban, EU, Norway, Arctic Agriculture and Land Use Iceland, Greenland, innovation, co-operation. Sammendrag: Fra februar 2010 til mars 2011, jobbet dette forprosjektet mot å utvikle en søknad om hovedprosjekt. Dette har vært et internasjonalt samarbeid med partnere fra Norge, Island og Grønland, finansiert av NORA og Nordland fylkeskommune. Søknaden om hovedprosjekt ble levert til NORA innen søknadsfristen den 1. mars 2011. Summary: From February 2010 to March 2011, this preliminary project was dedicated to initiate partners from Norway, Iceland and Greenland to design and develop a proposal for a main project. NORA and Nordland fylkeskommune was financial partners in this preliminary project. The application for the main project was submitted to NORA by March 1st 2011. Godkjent / Approved Prosjektleder / Project leader Håkon Sund Liv Jorunn Hind Avdelingsleder Rådgiver Acknowledgement The duration of this preliminary project was from February 2010 to March 2011. NORA and Nordland fylkeskommune contributed as financial partners. We wish to thank these partners for their financial support in the preliminary project, and hope they will continue their financing during the main project. The application for a main project was submitted to NORA by March 1st 2011. We wish to thank our contacts for their contribution and enthusiasm for this project and its future goals. We also want to thank Nordland Research Institute for their contribution during the preliminary project. Tjøtta, March 2011 Liv Jorunn Hind Project leader, Bioforsk Nord Tjøtta Content Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................... 2 Content .................................................................................................................. 3 Abstract ................................................................................................................. 4 1. Background ....................................................................................................... 5 2. Results – Achieved goals ....................................................................................... 7 2.1 Network/organisation ................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 Project leaders ...................................................................................... 7 2.1.2 Other active collaborators ......................................................................... 7 2.1.3 Plans to expand the partnership .................................................................. 7 2.2 Activities ................................................................................................... 8 2.2.1 Meetings with project partners ................................................................... 8 2.2.2 Marketing ............................................................................................. 9 2.2.3 Connection to other international projects .................................................... 9 2.3 Different challenges to sustainable sealing .......................................................... 9 3. Future aim ...................................................................................................... 15 4. Attachments ................................................................................................... 16 Hind, L.J. Bioforsk Rapport vol. 6 nr. 35 2011 3 Abstract On May 5th 2009, the European Parliament passed through a legislation that imposed a ban on import of all seal products to the EU. Exceptions were made for products stemming from traditional Inuit hunt, tourist import and products from measures implemented to maintain marine resources, including fish stocks. The aim of the proposed legislation was to ensure that no products derived from seals killed and skinned in ways that cause pain, distress and suffering, find their way onto the European market. Hence, the legislation was based on animal welfare issues, and not the preservation of seal populations and species. From February 2010 to March 2011 NORA and Nordland fylkeskommune was financial partners of this preliminary project. The project was dedicated to initiate partners from Norway, Iceland and Greenland to design and develop a proposal for a main project. The three main tasks during the project period were to: - Establish a network for the main project - Identify some main challenges for sustainable seal hunt in each country - Design and write a proposal for the main project During the preliminary project we established a contact group existing of researchers, sealers, designers and regional administrators with a mutual interest for the future of the sealing industry. We also had some contact with relevant informants outside of the NORA main focus area, the most relevant being contacts in Canada, Finland or Scotland. Through document studies and information from our contacts, we have briefly reviewed the overall sealing situation in countries included in the preliminary project as well as some of the countries we may wish to include in the main project. Each country has its own perspectives related to sealing, different ways of managing the industry and different challenges related to the EU legislation. The application for the main project was submitted to NORA by March 1st 2011. This project has a two-dimensional goal: - Evaluate the sealing industry as a traditional industry in local communities, and the effect of the EU ban. - Contribute to cooperation and product development in the local sealing industry based on sustainability. One of the biggest challenges in reaching this future goal is to apply for regional financing in the different countries. Getting all the co-financing in place is the next step in preparing the main project. We have already had positive feedback from some of the financial partners we have contacted. Hind, L.J. Bioforsk Rapport vol. 6 nr. 35 2011 4 1. Background On May 5th 2009, the European Parliament passed through a legislation that imposed a ban on import of all seal products to the EU. Exceptions were made for products stemming from traditional Inuit hunt, tourist import and products from measures implemented to maintain marine resources, including fish stocks1. The aim of the proposed legislation was to ensure that no products derived from seals killed and skinned in ways that cause pain, distress and suffering, find their way onto the European market. Hence, the legislation was based on animal welfare issues, and not the preservation of seal populations and species. The legislation was met by praises and celebrations by opponents to sealing2. On the other hand it was met with public and political resistance from nations where sealing is a more accepted part of sustainable harvesting of marine resources. The legislation was opposed by governmental officials in both Canada and Norway, and the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) has described the EU import ban as “a huge step backwards” for sustainable development. National organisations on Greenland, such as KNAPK (Greenland’s Fishing and Hunting Association) and the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), have brought EU before the European Court of Human Rights as they believe the EU legislation is in conflict with WTO (World Trade Organization) agreements. A new hearing was set for August 16th 2010. The EU Parliament did not rule in favour of the complainant at this time, and the legislation was put in effect. Some 900 000 seals are hunted each year around the globe, with the commercial hunt in Canada, Greenland and Namibia accounting for some 60 % of the seals killed each year. In Norway, Sweden and Iceland, sealing is conducted relatively small scale. According to the International Commission for Exploration of the Seas (ICES), today’s sealing is in accordance with scientific advices3. The Norwegian Ministry for Fisheries and Costal Affairs claims that Norwegian regulations safeguard seal population as well as hunting methods, and are developed in close collaboration with biologists and veterinarians. According to the Norwegian Minister of foreign affairs, “a ban on trade in seal products will set a dangerous precedent in the matter of sustainable harvesting for renewable resources”4. Sealing occurs in various parts of the world, especially in circumpolar areas, for commercial, survival and cultural reasons. In addition to the cultural and economic importance seals play in many countries, the sea mammal also has gained status