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The anti-sealing vessel Farley Mowat is towed by Canadian Coast Guard ship George R. Pearkes into the harbour in Sydney, N.S., on Sunday, April 13, 2008. (Mike Dembeck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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The anti-sealing vessel Farley Mowat is towed by Canadian Coast Guard ship George R. Pearkes into the harbour in Sydney, N.S., on Sunday, April 13, 2008. (Mike Dembeck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

CTV.ca News Staff

Canada's fisheries minister denies he has handed anti-sealing forces a win with Saturday's storming and seizure of a militant conservation group's boat.

"No, we haven't handed them a gift at all," Loyola Hearn told CTV's Question Period on Sunday.

Captain Paul Watson, Founder and President of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society poses for a portrait in New York, Saturday, April 12, 2008. (AP / Frances Roberts)

The Canadian government has shown fellow governments such as Japan, Norway and Iceland -- that have also faced direct actions by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society -- that "we're not putting up with it any more," he said.

"And if he (Sea Shepherd head Paul Watson) can go to other places and get away with it, well, welcome to Canada, Mr. Watson."

Watson said of the seizure of the Farley Mowat and arrests: "I think Mr. Hearn has just handed us a gift.

We're seeing the end of days for the seal hunt."