On February 19, 2019, Spotted Seal Protection and Anti-poaching Symposium was held in Beijing. Legal professionals, experts and scholars, media reporters, and Dalian’s environmental volunteers from across the country discussed and investigated questions on the shrinkage of spotted seal protection zone, current situation and its causes, reasons for inadequacy in patrolling by relevant departments during the breeding season, ineffectiveness of government supervision, the root causes underlying the black underground interest chain, protective work of confiscated and rescued spotted seals, and the feasibility of filing environmental public interest litigations. Both online and offline communication, and live web casting were used for this symposium.
Head of the Institute of Environment and Resources Law at China University of Political Science and Law Yu Wenxuan, Assistant Secretary-General Professional Committee for Environmental Damage Assessment at Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences Song Junhua, Director of THUPDi Yang Haiming, Beijing Yi Pai Law Firm Li Enze, Research Fellow from the First Institute Of Oceanography Chen Shang, Shandong University’s Weihai Campus Professor Wang Yaming, Damage Identification Center at Zhongxu Environment Li Shilei expressed their opinions and suggestions towards this incident from their own professional perspective.
Local volunteers from Dalian Changxing Island Da Hai introduced frontline information on the selling of spotted seals and interest tunneling via the Internet at the meeting. He mentioned that the poaching of male spotted seals was the mainstream during the early years, because their genitals (the seal penis) could be sold for a good price. One seal penis could be sold as high as 10,000 - 30,000 Yuan. But in recent years, female spotted seals and their pups have likewise become the target of criminals. Because pups can be sold to aquariums, where they can be trained for lucrative performances to the tourists. Huabei Environment Frontline Xing Shijie, Director of “China Great Bustard Conservation Area at Changyuan” Song Keming and other first-line staff similarly shared their ideas of the conservation of wild animals and existing situation of the black underground interest chain, based on their respective observation and knowledge background.
Topics like the illegal poaching and selling of spotted seals, inadequacy in protective effort of the government, embezzlement of related departments frequently aroused heated discussion at the symposium. CCTV reporter Tong Ying raised three questions consecutively, enquiring “which department is in fact responsible for the protection of marine species? Will duty adjustments at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Ministry of Natural Resources lead to a blank area concerning part of animal protection? Is the poaching spot of spotted seals located in within the protection zone before its shrinkage? Xinhua reporters talked about several wildlife protection organizations. Because of their leaders who are from the government and other members from profited-oriented seaquariums and aquariums, a lack of third-party participation and supervision, and their dual structure, it remains a question whether laws and regulations stipulated and enforced under this background can really have benefits for wildlife conservation.
Towards the end of the symposium, and witnessed by all its invited participants, “China Spotted Seals Conservation Area at Dalian” was officially founded. The Vice President of Liaoning Province Dalian Environmental Protection Volunteers Association Tang Zailin was elected the director of “China Spotted Seals Conservation Area at Dalian”, and delivered a founding speech. More detailed speeches made by other meeting participants will be compiled and published later by CBCGDF.
At the end of the meeting, the Secretary-General of CBCGDF Dr. Zhou Jinfeng expressed gratitude to all the experts, journalists, and volunteers who take a keen interest in this spotted seal incidence. He mentioned that, although there are over 100 China Conservation Areas established by CBCGDF across China, little or no funding can be allocated to them. As a result, the risks, pressure, and difficulties faced by them is far beyond imagination. But they are in fact those who make the greatest contribution to the endeavor of ecosystem protection in China, and their participation, i.e. protection efforts from the public, is fundamental to biodiversity conservation and eco-civilization construction in our country.
To conclude, CBCGDF has set up WeChat Inquiry Group for this spotted seal incident. We welcome the joining of interested sectors of society and friends willing to be a part of it. We are also hoping local people with a deeper understanding and clues of spotted seals to contact CBCGDF (via reporting phone calls). Appropriate measures will be taken to follow up with any new information. Let’s join our efforts to protect spotted seals!
Reporting Telephone No.: 010-68485952
Environment 123 Website: www.hj123.org
(Photo credit: CBCGDF)
https://v.qq.com/x/page/n13598okxvk.html
Original Chinese article:
http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/7653.html
By / Lu Lei