THE International Fund for Animal Welfare has expressed deep concern for the recent announcement by the Namibian government that it will expand its seal harvesting industry. The Namibian Cabinet last week approved a recommendation by Fisheries Minister, Dr Abraham Iyambo, to double the number of seal concession holders from two to four. Earlier this year Minister Iyambo said the Government planned to “drastically increase” seal harvesting quotas this year, claiming that a rapidly increasing seal population in Namibian waters poses a threat to the local fishing industry. Namibia’s 2000 sealing season begins on August 1. Sarah Scarth, Director for IFAW Southern Africa, said IFAW had followed the development of the annual hunt for many years and had not seen any evidence – scientific or otherwise – to support expanding the Namibian seal harvesting industry.