VÍDEO: Un pescador lanza explosivos a leones marinos y recibe avalancha de críticas

Las autoridades pesqueras de Canadá investigan a un pescador tras la publicación de un vídeo en Facebook que muestra al hombre lanzando un explosivo a un grupo de leones marinos en el Estrecho de Georgia.

En las imágenes, que se subieron a la página de Facebook de Pacific Balance Pinniped Society, se puede ver el pescador, Allan Marsden, que enciende la mecha de un pequeño dispositivo explosivo que se utiliza para asustar a osos u otros animales, y lo arroja al agua. Segundos más tarde, el dispositivo detona y los leones marinos se sumergen rápidamente bajo el agua.

El vídeo se hizo viral de inmediato y las críticas ante semejante atrocidad no se hicieron esperar. Pero el pescador insiste que su intención era asustar a los leones marinos y no matarlos.

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Warning: This video contains graphic content // A Facebook group pushing for what it calls 'population management' of seals and sea lions on Canada's Pacific coast recently shared a video of a herring fisherman throwing an explosive into a group of sea lions in the Strait of Georgia. The fisherman is on record with @cbcnews as stating that his intended purpose was to disperse sea lions and not to kill them, as he was checking to see if the herring were ready to spawn. There is no scientific evidence to justify abuse or a ‘cull’ of predators - seals and sea lions, in this case - as the best way to manage marine ecosystems. It should go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: setting off explosives next to the head of an animal will cause irreparable damage. If it does not injure it enough to kill, it will probably damage its hearing, or destroy an eye. It is illegal to disturb marine mammals on the B.C. coast, which includes the use of acoustic deterrents such as seal bombs or other explosives. Tell the Department of Fisheries and Oceans what you think of this behaviour: @jonathanwnv, @fisheriesoceanscan. Or contact Minister Wilkinson directly by phone 1.613.775.6333 or email Jonathan.Wilkinson@parl.gc.ca And please visit us online to join our global movement that's working to create healthy and abundant oceans. #seals #sealions #bcpoli #animalcruelty #cdnpoli

A post shared by SeaLegacy #TurningTheTide (@sealegacy) on Mar 8, 2019 at 10:41am PST

“No buscamos matar leones marinos, no cazamos a estos animales, preferiríamos que no estuvieran ahí. Queremos ganarnos la vida y solo estamos tratando de encontrar una manera de lidiar con este problema”, decía Marsden según informan los medios locales.

La zona del estrecho de Georgia ha experimentado un gran aumento del número de leones marinos. Por eso dice Marsden que grabó el video, con el objetivo de informar al público que los leones marinos representan una amenaza para la industria pesquera.

Pero, a pesar de sus motivos, las críticas a esta acción.

Meet Jessica Seal. She's a young harbour seal that was shot in the face with birdshot and found emaciated & lethargic on Kits Beach Feb 18. She's now being cared for by @vanaqua's Marine Mammal Rescue Centre. pic.twitter.com/H1LSs5ShN4

— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) March 5, 2019