European Union Decides to Suspend Imports of Grizzly
Hunting Trophies from British Columbia
Environmental Investigation
Agency
The European Union has decided to suspend imports of grizzly bear hunting
trophies from the Canadian province of British Columbia following intensive
lobbying by the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency.
The unanimous decision by the 15 member states was prompted by the BC
government’s failure to protect its grizzly bear population despite
repeated promises of action. Grizzlies are listed as vulnerable or threatened
throughout the majority of their range in Canada, yet over 200 bears are
legally killed in a commercial sport hunt each year. Most foreigner hunters
who kill BC’s grizzlies come from Europe and the United States.
Wendy Elliott, EIA’s bear campaigner said: "British Columbia’s
government is systematically eliminating or weakening regulations which
protect grizzly bear habitat whilst allowing a sport hunt that scientists
have been warning for decades is unsustainable. The EU’s decision
demonstrates that the international community will not ignore this wilful
failure to protect North America’s flagship species."
The EU decision, made on January 15, is likely to please the large number
of UK tourists who travel to BC to view grizzly bears, an industry that
generates twice as much revenue as the sport hunt.
Last June the European Commission informed the BC government that imports
of grizzly sport trophies would be suspended unless it implemented the
recommendations of its own Independent Scientific Panel on grizzly bear
sustainability. In March 2003, the panel called for grizzly bear no-hunting
reserves to be established throughout the province and for human access
to grizzly-rich wilderness to be curtailed. The BC government has yet
to act on the vast majority of these key recommendations.
Elliott continued: "The BC government has consistently put the
interests of industry before those of wildlife. EIA applauds Europe’s
import suspension which sends a strong message that any further delays
on implementation all of the panel’s recommendations, are simply
unacceptable."
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