MPs urged to wear seal fur pins Thursday to show support for embattled industry

OTTAWA - It's being described as "Seal Day" on Parliament Hill.

The federal Tories are encouraging all MPs show their support for the embattled sealing industry by wearing a lapel pin made from seal fur.

Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield said the commercial seal hunt is important to thousands of people in the Far North and on the East Coast.

The minister's appeal comes as the centuries-old industry is on the verge of collapse as international markets dry up.

In December, Ottawa confirmed the world's largest buyer of Canadian seal products -- the Russian Federation -- had banned importing harp seal pelts.

The European Union banned importing seal products in 2010.

Liberal Senator Mac Harb said the Conservative government should be declaring the industry dead rather than staging a photo op.