Canadian Coast Guard Rams Farley Mowat
The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Des Groseilliers twice rammed the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship Farley Mowat yesterday.
The Coast Guard had ordered the Farley Mowat to not approach the area where seals are being slaughtered. When the Farley Mowat did not comply, the Coast Guard rammed the vessel near the port aft stern area. After the Farley Mowat stopped in the ice, the Coast Guard rammed the ship a second time in the same area of the ship causing damage to the plates in that area.
“It appears that Canada is prepared to use violence to cover-up the truth of this slaughter,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Our duty is to resist their violence and continue to document the truth.”
Despite mounting pressure from around the world to end the commercial slaughter of seals, the Canadian government authorised hunters to kill 275,000 harp seals in 2008, one of the highest quotas in recent history. Three Seal Hunters have been killed in an accident during bad weather on the annual seal hunt, prompting other hunters to return to shore.
Hunters face shifting ice, high winds, freezing temperatures and unpredictable seas during the hunt this year.
About 800 seals were killed on Friday officials said.
more info: sea shepherd