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.