Canadian Seal Hunters Trapped by Ice

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-na/2007/apr/18/041808920.html

ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland (AP) - Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers smashed through a massive expanse of ice off Newfoundland's northeast coast Wednesday in a bid to free about 100 seal hunt vessels.

About 15 vessels were in danger of having the Atlantic ice pierce their hulls, said Department of Fisheries and Oceans spokesman Phil Jenkins. The thick, moving ice poses the danger of sandwiching and cracking the boats.

"There's an onshore wind that is compacting the ice," Jenkins said. "These boats are on their way back from sealing and then got stuck in the ice. One crew had to abandon their vessel and got picked up by the coast guard."

The Newfoundland part of Canada's controversial seal hunt is the third and largest stage of the hunt. The total quota for all three phases is 270,000 animals.

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[orleans]

1. hum..... n/t

[tularetom]

2. I really need to restrain myself

and not post what I'd actually like to happen here. Some DU'ers might not think it christian of me.

[T Wolf]

3. Well, I won't. Let the assholes live (or not) with the consequences of

their barbaric actions. Why waste scarce government resources bailing out those reckless enough to endanger themselves?

[Critters2]

4. I'm a Christian and prolly thinking the same thing.

Ours is a just God, after all.

[blondie58]

7. yeah, that was my initial reaction, also!

that is too bad- NOT!

This is karma, if there is such a thing.

[Nihil]

5. Sink you bastards! (n/t)

The fish will nibble your corpses and the seals will have their revenge.

:bounce:

[Dead_Parrot]

6. That's a shame. nt

[jpak]

8. Update: Ice Still Grips Canada Seal Hunt Boats

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-na/2007/apr/20/042004098.html

Commercial seal hunters off the eastern coast of Canada faced food and fuel shortages Friday as their vessels remained stuck in dense ice.

"They're getting anxious because some of them have been out for eight or 10 days," said a spokesman for the Canadian coast guard, Brian Penny. "They're running out of supplies and it's a long, slow process to get to them all."

The boats were trapped when strong northeast winds generated by a powerful low-pressure system pushed ice toward the coast of northeastern Newfoundland and southern Labrador earlier this week.

An easing of the wind Friday morning allowed 10 vessels to make it into port, but Penny said the other 90 boats probably would stay immobilized at least until Saturday.

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