A small protest in front of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans office in Yarmouth today.
The group of about 20 were calling for harsh penalties against three fishermen.
Protest rally outside DFO office in Yarmouth, demanding that 3 charged in baby seal video case have their fishing licenses revoked. pic.twitter.com/CGkVd0cdNb
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) February 3, 2017
The men, 33 year old Mark Allan MacKenzie of Lower Argyle, 25 year old Jay Alexander Jenkins of Rockville and 19 year old Brendon Douglas James Porter of East Pubnico are facing charges related the alleged mistreatment of a marine mammal after a Facebook video taken on a fishing vessel went viral earlier this week.
The video was originally posted by one of the men on board.
A man is seen poking at a baby seal with a buoy, and later a man can be heard saying ‘let’s kill it.’
Megan d’Entremont read a statement on behalf of rally organizer Caitlin Buchanan.
“We have an opportunity to stand together as law-abiding citizens and say that this behaviour will not be tolerated. If you have a rotten apple in the barrel, the other apples eventually rot too. What does this say about the Canadian fishing industry to the international community that is now watching? How will this affect your prices and your own reputation?”
The men will appear in court on April 3rd to enter a plea.
About 20 people with signs at the protest rally today. pic.twitter.com/aZMeTyHTZU
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) February 3, 2017
