Buffett bans Canadian seafood...

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » December 19, 2006 11:50 am

From an article in the Ottowa Citizen: "Canadian seafood not welcome at Jimmy Buffett's buffet". Jimmy Buffett has banned Canadian seafood from Margaritaville Cafes in an effort to raise awareness about the Canadian seal hunt.

"Margaritaville Cafes will not be purchasing or serving Canadian seafood products until the Canadian government ends the commercial seal hunt permanently," Mr. Buffett said yesterday in a statement.
<em>
"I do not look at this as one nation telling another how to best manage its affairs. I view it as an effort to make humans more humane in the way they manage the planet."</em>

Snowparrot · Post by **Snowparrot** » December 19, 2006 11:53 am

I was sad to see this. I don't agree with the politics of this ban.
But I was happy to see a big picture of Jimmy on page 5 of my local paper (The Ottawa Citizen) this morning....especially since my husband was featured in a story just below that (no picture of No Parrot, though) about illegal cigarettes.

Tequila Revenge · Post by **Tequila Revenge** » December 19, 2006 12:20 pm

Good for Jimmy. I wonder if he'll quit allowing all the plastics, especially PVC, vinyl flooring and all the other stuff that's bad for the planet too

At least it's a start.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » December 19, 2006 12:53 pm

Snowparrot wrote:I was sad to see this. I don't agree with the politics of this ban.
But I was happy to see a big picture of Jimmy on page 5 of my local paper (The Ottawa Citizen) this morning....especially since my husband was featured in a story just below that (no picture of No Parrot, though) about illegal cigarettes.

No Parrot smokes illegal cigarettes?

Snowparrot · Post by **Snowparrot** » December 19, 2006 2:33 pm

Nope, he just buys them.

cocotel · Post by **cocotel** » December 19, 2006 2:43 pm

Sure beats overlooking the problem.

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » December 19, 2006 2:48 pm

I guess this means he won't be sponsoring the up-and-coming Jamaican Seal-Clubbing Team...

Snowparrot · Post by **Snowparrot** » December 19, 2006 4:03 pm

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/seal-phoque/myth_e.htm

This is the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans' official position.
Thought we might bring in some facts from another point of view.

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » December 19, 2006 4:23 pm

There you go confusing the debate with facts.

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » December 19, 2006 4:28 pm

Maybe Jimmy just thinks the hunting of these animals is not useful but if peoples income and lives are based on this and with the proper regulations there is no difference in hunting seals or hunting deer.

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » December 19, 2006 4:41 pm

I just feel that any "hunt" that only involves herding, walking up to,
and clubbing an animal isn't much of a "hunt". I guess you have to
search ("hunt") for them initially? Why not just club friendly dogs?

Anyway, I guess Jimmy is exercising his financial option in order to
express his own opinion...

Snowparrot · Post by **Snowparrot** » December 19, 2006 4:44 pm

Desdamona wrote:I just feel that any "hunt" that only involves herding, walking up to,
and clubbing an animal isn't much of a "hunt". I guess you have to
search ("hunt") for them initially? Why not just club friendly dogs?

Anyway, I guess Jimmy is exercising his financial option in order to
express his own opinion...

Good point... you do have to hunt for them, but after that, it's pretty much the same as farm animals or chickens, I guess.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » December 19, 2006 6:32 pm

Interesting and a bit surprising for JB to publicly jump into something like this as it groups him with folks who have typically represented a more extreme view.

I know the high-value of the seal pelts drives the hunting...I don't know if or how the rest of the animal is used at all (e.g. meat, fat). And, it's a traditional and long-standing source of income for many in these less-developed areas of Canada where other income sources aren't readily available.

Of course, JB is an avid fisherman and has hunted, too. And, I can't judge how humane the seal hunts are relative to fishing, hunting, slaughterhouses, etc. The seal hunts certainly grab attention, however, because they can be seen publicly and are shockingly graphic and certainly appear inhumane to the average person.

I'm not intending to judge one way or the other on this (because I don't know enough)...but he seems to have stepped into some muddy water on this one.

All that said, it's more of a political statement as I very much doubt Canada supplied much if any seafood to Margaritaville restaurants anyway.

It'll be interesting how Jimmy is received next time he plays Toronto or takes a Canadian fishing trip.

brahmafear · Post by **brahmafear** » December 19, 2006 7:23 pm

This is all well and good and I can appreciate the stance. But at the same time has anyone looked into how Jimmy runs his business and treats his employees? From the things that I have heard most employees are scheduled (part time) so that benefits are not paid. Sorry I am not trying to stir things up but I had to say what I was informed of a year or so back. If it's changed then I apologize. If it hasn't well then shame on Jimmy for being not much different the Wal-Mart. Again folks I'm not here to start anything other then the fact it bothered me when I heard it. I could be wrong but what the hell. Seals-people what's they difference, eh?

tikitatas · Post by **tikitatas** » December 19, 2006 7:27 pm

Quiet and Shy wrote:Interesting and a bit surprising for JB to publicly jump into something like this as it groups him with folks who have typically represented a more extreme view.

I know the high-value of the seal pelts drives the hunting...I don't know if or how the rest of the animal is used at all (e.g. meat, fat). And, it's a traditional and long-standing source of income for many in these less-developed areas of Canada where other income sources aren't readily available.

Of course, JB is an avid fisherman and has hunted, too. And, I can't judge how humane the seal hunts are relative to fishing, hunting, slaughterhouses, etc. The seal hunts certainly grab attention, however, because they can be seen publicly and are shockingly graphic and certainly appear inhumane to the average person.

I'm not intending to judge one way or the other on this (because I don't know enough)...but he seems to have stepped into some muddy water on this one.

All that said, it's more of a political statement as I very much doubt Canada supplied much if any seafood to Margaritaville restaurants anyway.

It'll be interesting how Jimmy is received next time he plays Toronto or takes a Canadian fishing trip.

Ummmmm . . . yeah.

Marnin Grita Guy · Post by **Marnin Grita Guy** » December 19, 2006 7:58 pm

OH MOONIE..........

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » December 19, 2006 8:20 pm

rednekkPH wrote:I guess this means he won't be sponsoring the up-and-coming Jamaican Seal-Clubbing Team...

They had such potential. and even if you add the cost of personalizing clubs, it's still cheaper than importing snow to Jamaica for the Dog Sled team.

fins2thenorth · Post by **fins2thenorth** » December 19, 2006 8:44 pm

i can't believe jimmy did this! it's hurting a whole industry based on the actions of under 0.01% of the population in a small part of canada. Imagine if we banned all american music because we don't like the guy in the white house and the unjust war.

caly · Post by **caly** » December 19, 2006 8:54 pm

.....I still love him

Tiki Torches · Post by **Tiki Torches** » December 19, 2006 9:04 pm

Quiet and Shy wrote:Interesting and a bit surprising for JB to publicly jump into something like this as it groups him with folks who have typically represented a more extreme view.

Sorta like his involvement with Greenpeace?