It's pretty clear that the pro-seal hunt interests are hurting hard from their loss at the ECJ. One spokesperson appeared to accuse the Court of being "self-serving" and lacking a "fair or just process." That doesn't seem very consistent, to say the least, with continuing to pursue an appeal in the ECJ of the industry's first loss, or filing an appeal against yesterday's judgment. See this news article: http://bit.ly/17YN12H
But there are signs that the industry is also bracing itself for defeat at the WTO. Having touted the WTO action as the possible salvation of the seal hunt, industry spokespeople now seem to be downplaying it. In the same news article, one such individual implied that the WTO proceedings don't have any real legal effect, saying that the WTO tribunal is just a panel of experts giving their opinion. Of course, legally inaccurate. But what this really sounds like is that they are already preparing their press release in anticipation of a loss in Geneva. But that's not a reason for friends of seals to feel overconfident as panel goes into its second round of hearings this coming Monday.
