Federal Fisheries Minister plays Russian Roulette and 9 more Belugas Lose

While the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans stalled, nine more beluga whales were purchased and delivered from Russia to Marineland of Canada in Niagara Falls several days ago.

Permits to capture more than 200 beluga whales from the Russian White Sea for export to the Japanese whale meat market were issued in Russia earlier this year. Approximately fifty whales were slaughtered before international outcry caused the Russian government to end the commercial hunt last month. Twelve others were captured alive for the captivity industry.

Russiaís last commercial beluga hunt took place in the 1930s and all but wiped out an entire population.

This week, nine female belugas were added to Marinelandís Friendship Cove exhibit, already grossly overcrowded by 3 male belugas imported by Marineland last May, as well as a reported 5 Orca (Killer) whales.

ìItís unbelievable. Thousands of Canadians have expressed outrage at the capture of whales from the wild for the aquarium trade. Our own fisheries minister and federal government refused to do anything about it despite repeated warnings that this import was imminent,î says Zoocheck Canadaís Holly Penfound. Marineland already imported three male belugas last May with well-publicized intentions to import females for breeding purposes.

ìI donít know what it will take to get this government to act. It would have been a small move on their part, but an important one for whales and other wildlife. We only have one facility headed by one man in this country promoting whale captures, yet we have thousands of Canadians opposed. Why didnít the government pay attention?î asks lawyer Lesli Bisgould.

Adds Holly Penfound, ìThe federal government is complicit. By refusing to do anything about whale importations, theyíve sanctioned these outrageous and cruel captures of wild Russian whales for slaughter and captivity. Itís irresponsible, regressive and an affront to anyone concerned about wildlife. The only option left to Herb Dhaliwal, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, is to act immediately, in conjunction with David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, to prohibit any further captures, imports and exports of whales and dolphins in this country and ensure that Canadaís role in this dirty trade is terminated once and for all.í

For further information:
Holly Penfound, Director, Zoocheck Canada Inc.      1 (416) 285-1744
Rob Laidlaw, Executive Director, Zoocheck Canada  1 (416) 285-1744

Zoocheck Canada Inc.
3266 Yonge Street, Suite 1729
Toronto, ON M4N 3P6
Ph 1 (416) 285-1744 Fax 1 (416) 285-4670
E-Mail: zoocheck@idirect.com
Web Site: http://www.zoocheck.com
Registered Charity No. 0828459-54