RCMP arrests protesters, Oh

Sea Shepherd crew arrested at seal hunt
WebPosted Apr 1 2005 09:22 AM NST
CBC News

CHARLOTTETOWN — Eleven seal hunt protesters have been arrested in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for violating the buffer zone around sealing ships, Fisheries and Oceans officials said Thursday.

Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society said members of his crew were taken into custody by the RCMP after they tried to photograph sealers in the afternoon.

The arrests happened out on the ice between the Magdalen Islands, Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island. Those arrested are being transported to Charlottetown and charged.

"All I know … is that they entered within one half mile of the sealing activity without permits," said Roger Simon of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Watson said one of his members was assaulted while photographing the hunt. John Vasic was beaten in the face and had his camera smashed when he approached one of the sealing boats trapped in the ice.

"I immediately called the coast guard and asked the RCMP to charge the sealer with assault. They responded by sending a helicopter to arrest Vasic," Watson told The Canadian Press.

"There is speculation that some kind of altercation happened out there, and I have no information on that. If there would be, that would be of a criminal nature and that would be the RCMP to respond," said Simon.

An RCMP spokesperson in Charlottetown said they are investigating an alleged assault but are not releasing any details.