On February 10th I was fortunate enough to experience for the second time in my life what many Nova Scotians never get to experience – I was lucky enough to spend a few quiet hours with the grey seals on Hay Island. It's a bittersweet experience, spending time with the Hay Island grey seals because these pups are usually doomed to die a horrible death at the hands of Nova Scoita fishermen funded by the Nova Scotia government. This year was particularly unbearable - to look upon these pups laying on their backs, basking in the sun, eyes closed in bliss; or lazily scratching their sides with their flippers, itchy from moulting; or hissing warily as you pass by, trying to make themselves look fierce when in truth they look like lovable goofballs...it was just too much for my heart to take.

Happily, no buyers were found for grey seal skins in 2010 and the Hay Island slaughter was cancelled! I was overjoyed to know the pups with whom I'd spent time were spared. Despite lack of markets, I have no doubt the Nova Scotia government will again give way to sealing industry pressure and will allow a planned slaughter for 2011, and we are going to work especially hard in the coming months to make sure that all pups are spared in 2011 as well.

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