Canada Court to hear arguments for release of Sea Shepherd Ship May 9

SYDNEY, N.S. — A provincial court judge in Nova Scotia will hold a hearing May 9 to determine if a ship seized by the federal government over alleged seal hunt violations should be returned to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

The Farley Mowat was seized off Cape Breton on April 12 after it was boarded by RCMP officers and its 17-member crew taken into custody for allegedly getting too close to the hunt.



Its captain, Alex Cornelissen, and first mate Peter Hammarstedt were charged with violating the Fisheries Act.

The ship is being held in Sydney, where a judge also scheduled a preliminary hearing Thursday on the charges for July 2.

Outside court, lawyer Guy LaFosse said both his clients - who have been released on bail - will plead not guilty to the charges.

Paul Watson, head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has said he wants the vessel back.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g4H94boQcO2k5S2wEtVWJ_NO-c7Q


May Day” for the Seal Slaughter on May Day - Captain Paul Watson

http://www.seashepherd.org/editorials/editorial_080430_2.html

They already look bad enough over what they did, and the last thing they need is for this to go any further.

The hunt is over, and all they wanted was to keep SSCS from further documenting the gore and securing the EU ban on seal pelts.

Hearn just wanted to keep in good stead with the fisherman. Now that the drama is over, they just want the ship to go back to where it came from.