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Dear Sir,

While the sight of "helpless" baby seals who "don't know what to be afraid of" makes for sympathetic eco-grandstanding [Vessel rammed while protesting seal hunt, Bermuda Sun April 9], I wonder if Ms [Laura] Dakin and those aboard the Farley Mowat feel the same about the harvesting of all other forms of animal meat/products? Or only the cute seals?

One of the main reasons seal hunt protesters get so up in arms and passionate about saving the little pups is that they are cute and cuddly looking.

I hardly believe she or anyone else speaking out about this centuries old, regulated livelihood has ever stepped foot on a farm to complain about cows, pigs and so on being slaughtered. Or interfered with the livelihood of, say, fishermen off Bermuda's shores plying their catch. The aim of these harvests is exactly the same as that of the sealers. And the end result of that harvest is also the same. Dead animals for human consumption.

So unless Ms Dakin and her crew are complete vegetarians (as chef, perhaps she only cooks non-animal dishes for the crew), or they plan to barricade any of the island's abattoirs (should any still exist) with equal vim and vigour, they would be best to see sealers as honest, hard working folk who are providing for their families.

As for the Farley Mowat, what Ms Dakin fails to reveal about her ship is that she was found to be the vessel in the wrong. The so-called "ramming" she received was as a result of her captain violating the vessel's licensed observation limits. Not the other way around.

One only hopes the Farley Mowat's captain doesn't put Ms Dakin's life in jeopardy in such an "inhospitable place, surrounded by ice". I am sure she wouldn't want to call on the Canadian Coastguard's "complete incompetence" to assist.

Andrew Clarke

Ontario, Canada

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