Namibian seal hunt will go on
2009-07-06 21:11
Johannesburg - The Namibian government says its annual commercial seal hunt will go on despite objections from animal welfare groups.
Frans Tsheehama of the Namibian fisheries and marine resources ministry said on Monday that the season started on July 1 and will run until November 15.
The hunters are expected to kill over 90 000 seals, including 85 000 pups.
The hunting season was expected to begin last week, but there was confusion over whether the killings had begun after numerous media reported that a South African-based animal rights activist was in negotiations to halt them.
Seal Alert South Africa's Francois Hugo said he opposed the hunt as a cruel and outdated practice.
The Namibian government has argued that the seal population needs to be controlled to protect fish stocks.
- SAPA