Territories oppose U.S. polar bear protection bill:

[Praxius]

Territories oppose U.S. polar bear protection bill

Proposed U.S. legislation aims to protect polar bears, but it threatens the sport hunting industry in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories which depends on American hunters. The bipartisan proposed polar bear protection act would close a loophole in the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. The loophole, created in 1984, allows American hunters to bring their trophies from other countries home. Three animal activist groups — the Humane Society of the United States, Defenders of Wildlife, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare — have applauded the move, saying polar bears are in danger due to shrinking sea ice. "There's a polar bear population in Alaska but no trophy hunting or sport hunting is allowed under U.S. law," said Michael Markarian, the executive vice-president of external affairs with the Humane Society of the United States. "So we don't believe American trophy hunters should go to other countries and kill polar bears if polar bears are protected here in the U.S." Markarian said his organization is not opposed to a sustainable subsistence hunt by Inuit. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on May 16 and has support from politicians including Democratic Senator John Kerry. It has now been referred to committees in both houses of the U.S. Congress. It comes as the U.S. government considers whether polar bears should be listed as as a threatened species under its Endangered Species Act. A decision is expected early next year. The government of Nunavut is opposed to listing the polar bear as threatened, citing concerns that it would hurt the territory's lucrative polar bear sport hunting industry because many of the hunters are American.

Ok, I'm on the Animals side for this argument... not only have I always been against any hunting that isn't for food, esspecially trophy hunting of all things.... but there is no need of this hunt..... It may rack up a lot of money for the Territory, it won't help them when they screw up their eco-system.

There is no issue with polar bears damaging the fishery, there is no issue in regards to food and supplied being used as a defense for the hunt...... if Money is their only answer for why it should continue, then I say make it illegal.

I honestly didn't think you still could hunt polar bears here in Canada (Except Natives, they can do pretty much whatever they want.)

And of all things.... why the hell would we permit people from another country to come in and kill them off?

[improvident]

Because of technology.. not many people even hunt for food anymore.. its all for trophy.. wich i agree is definatly wrong.. yes i have about 7 or 8 mounted animals in my house.. but each one was eaten by us.. or people we gave the meat to.. there is actually a hunting organisation around here that takes kids out to learn proper hunter saftey ect.. and all the meat is given to local families who cant afford a decent meal.. i definatly dig that.. as for polar bears.. i dont see the meat even being that good.. black bear meat is already so fatty and greasy its almost not even worth eating.. so i can only imagine what a polar bear is like.. having extra blubber to make up for the cold..

[Praxius]

lol... yeah... I dunno... I like Bear meat myself.... I like Deer, Moose, Duck, Rabbit.... all of the wild meat.... it takes so much better then chemically fed dieted cattle in a pin.

Here in Nova Scotia, there are organizations who do that as well, where they will give away the meat they hunted to those in need..... lucky bastards, lol.

[DEEJ85]

Well I pretty sure that the native population of these northern territories often have to hunt for meat as a supplement for their diet (or they go hungry or starve) This polar bear hunt is not only done for the benefit of rich nonnatives who can easily get by without it, but also done for tourist industry. I agree, I dislike the whole idea of killing animals for fancy clothing or for trophies. Personal Safety and food are the only reasons I can see for killing animals.

[Slevin57]

Well the Polar Bear population has been rising Globally.. I don't really agree with the policy. I think it encourages other countries to not step up and create their own policies on the bears protection.

I have no idea why Canada and Russia have not enacted laws to protect the polar bears. I do not think banning Americans from importing the bears is a step in the right direction. I think its a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

[rmnunez]

no trophy hunting or sport hunting is allowed under US law," said Michael Markarian, the executive vice-president of external affairs with the Humane Society of the US. "So we don't believe American (people from the US) trophy hunters should go to other countries and kill polar bears if polar bears are protected here in the US."

So US law applies to people of the US regardless of where they are and what the local law says? I doubt the US is about to recognize reciprocal extraterritorial application of foreign law over foreigners in the US.

What happens to a US trophy hunter who goes to Canada and kills a bear, when he comes back? They confiscate the stuffed head, fur...? Does the hunter have to pay a fine, go to jail, maybe he could be compelled to replace the bear (pay for the care and raising of one to be released in the hunted area)?