KOM (2008) 0469Forslag til Europa-Parlamentets og Rådet forordning om handel medsælprodukterHenvendelse ang. forslag om EU-importforbud på sælprodukterHermed omdeles en henvendelse fra den danske afdeling af CIC (The Inter-national Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation) ang. Kommissionensforslag om et EU-importforbud på sælprodukter.Henvendelsen er fremsendt med nedenstående følgeskrivelse:Til Europaudvalget,CIC - The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation har på sin56. generalforsamling, der netop er afholdt i Paris, vedtaget den vedhæftederesolution til støtte for fortsat sæljagt, hvor EU for tiden behandler et følelses-baseret og videnskabeligt ubegrundet forbud mod handel med sælproduktertil stor skade for de involverede lande og for udnyttelsen af fiskeressourcerne ibl.a. Nordatlanten til gavn for en økonomisk udnyttelse heraf.Jeg anmoder om, at Europaudvalget vil udnytte sin indflydelse til, at Danmarki EU imødegår en endelig vedtagelse af et handelsforbud med sælprodukter.Jeg kan oplyse, at CIC er en verdensomspændende organisation, der arbej-der for bæredygtig jagt som et redskab til bevarelse af biodiversiteten.Mvh.Ulf Scheibye, leder af den danske delegation til CIC, (The International Coun-cil for Game and Wildlife Conservation).Plantagekrogen 5, 2950 VedbækMail:[email protected],Tlf: 45893858Med venlig hilsenSigne Riis Andersen,udvalgssekretær

Sustainable management of seal populationsRECOMMENDATIONCICGA56.REC02NOTING that the total seal population in the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, including the BalticSea, is estimated at nearly 10 million animals, and the number has increased substantially over the lastdecades, whereby harp seal is the most numerous species with close to 8 million animals;FURTHER NOTING that seals consume annually some 9 million tons of fish, and by comparison theconsumption of wild-caught and farmed fish by EU citizens amounts to 10 million tons, and have agreat ecological impact on fish populations;REGRETTING that the EU bodies will decide on a ban on import and trade of seal products and thatsuch an action will substantially and negatively impact the management of these animal populations;RECOGNIZING that independent scientific monitoring has concluded that seal hunting methods cansatisfy the stringent animal welfare requirements, and this is recognized also by the European FoodSafety Agency;FEARING that if wild species are not managed on the basis of scientific knowledge, but on emotionalor political arguments, this could negatively impact biodiversity as well as human welfare:the 56

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CIC General Assembly in Paris from 29 April to 2 MayEMPHASIZES that seals should be managed according to the same principles that apply to themanagement of other species, being laid down in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), andmore specifically in the Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines.The ban, which the EU has now contemplated, is in violation of these principles and guidelines, and ifimplemented, will bring the EU into contradiction with the CBD.EXPRESSES its deepest concern, because such a decision by EU bodies affecting the sustainable use,hunting, culling and management of game populations as well as the livelihood of rural communities,is made with no basis in biological, ecological or animal welfare facts.CALLS upon all individuals, organizations and governments committed to conservation, wise andsustainable use of biodiversity, as well as human welfare, to support the management of seals as anatural resource and consider the wider implications for sustainable use if the trade in seal products isbanned.