Sealing Regulations Being Prepared

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32297, 15 May 1970, Page 14

Sealing Regulations Being Prepared

The proposed convention t regulate pelagic sealing am conserve seal species in th Antarctic is based on detailei recommendations provided b: the biology working group o the Scientific Committee fo Antarctic Research, says thi Minister of Science (Mr Tai boys).

This is an international, non-governmental scientific organisation, he says in reply to R. J. Glen, a correspondent to “The Press,” who wrote: “I have been unable to obtain information on the proposed regulations governing sealing in the Antarctic and would be obliged, if ‘The Pres’ would come to my aid. Are there provisions in the proposed regulations for the protection of seals under one year old and for the banning of clubs as ■ a means of slaughter? “New Zealand is one of the treaty nations which will meet in Japan later this year, and it is important that the public are made aware, before it is too late, of the conditions to be imposed.”

Mr Taiboys says that the recommendations deal with such topics as the limitation on numbers of individual species that may be killed or taken, sealing zones, closed seasons, specially protected areas arid species (for example fur seals of the Arctocephalus), and the introduction of a permit system. There is provision for the exchange, of information including the number of adult

individuals and pups of each species killed or taken on a daily basis. As for protecting any particular age-group of seals, the proposed convention reflects international concern for protecting breeding animals rather than those which have not reached the breeding

stage. The proposed convention makes no mention of particular methods of killing, but this is a question which will be covered in discussions between Governments before the sixth Antarctic Treaty meeting to be held in Tokyo in October. A copy of the draft convention, which forms the basis of the present discussions between Governments, can be obtained on request from the Director-General, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Private Bag, Wellington, says Mr Taiboys.