The letter was prepared by
Harpseals.
Signatories to it
represent between them millions
of people concerned about the
survival, welfare and rights of
seals.
A group of 24 scientists, seal
experts and conservationists from
all over the world including
Earthrace wrote to leaders of the
South African government asking
it to maintain its two decade old
moratorium on killing Cape fur
seals and to consider being the
first African nation to introduce a
ban on trade in seal products.
The letter referenced scientific
studies showing that seals are critical to
marine ecosystems; that the population
of Cape fur seals has not risen
significantly since the moratorium in
South Africa began; and that the state of
fish stocks depends on actions from the
government in addressing over-fishing
and in setting fishing quotas that
account for multi-species interactions.
We are still pushing for a response from
the Government.
Earthrace Conservation is part of a global animal coalition
formed by Bob Irwin (father of conservationist, Steve
Irwin).
The coalition was formed to put pressure on the Australian
Government to change the Native Title Act and stop the
legal hunting of some of Australia’s not only vulnerable
and endangered but also iconic species.
Over 50 species listed by Australia's own Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC
Act) as endangered and vulnerable are being legally hunted
in unsustainable numbers often using very cruel methods.
Dan Green, from Earthrace
Conservation UK which
organised a protest outside
the Australian Embassy in
London, said: “If nothing is
done now to stop it, iconic
Australian species like dugong, sea turtle,
koala,
dingo, rock wallabies and
many others are at risk of
extinction.”
In addition to the issue of
hunting about which
Earthrace and the rest of the
coalition are so concerned, it
5
Extinction Soup A great movie with
really strong messages, amazing 'voices'
from experts to shark lovers, and an
emotional back story that's affecting on
many different levels. So proud to have
Earthrace on the credits as one of the
Executive Producers and all credit to:
Stefanie Brendl and the rest of team.!
was only last year that
Aborigines and Torres Strait
islanders
in Queensland were
included within Australian animal cruelty
laws.
A 12-month ‘grace
period’ before the
new rules will be enforced means that a
huge variety and
number of vulnerable
and endangered species will continue to
be abused.
Dugong, sea turtle and many other
vulnerable Australian species can still be
hunted legally under the Native Title Act.
Increasingly, poachers seeking profits are
also using fast boats, guns and modern
technologies, killing indiscriminately.
Seen regularly by observers are sea turtles being cut open
and fins removed while still alive, and dugongs drowning
by being towed tail-first behind boats, or being left on land
to die slowly and in pain.
More from Earthrace Time to Act on the Act and from the
Bob Irwin Animal Coalition.
Petition: Save Australia's Endangered Dugongs and Sea Turtles