Sea Shepherd boats
tried unsuccessfully 2 days ago to block the transfer of the carcass of a harpooned female minke whale from one Japanese vessel to another in Australian waters off Antarctica near the country’s Davis Research Base. The irate whalers tried to ram the Sea Shepherd boat.
Japanese whaling vessel with carcass of a minke whale (Photo: Sea Shepherd)
“Through binoculars we could see the whale breaching,”
said a crewman aboard a Sea Shepherd boat. “We saw the harpoon fire, the cable tighten. Then it was several minutes before she stopped thrashing about.”
Japanese whaling ship No 3 Yushin Maru (left) and the Sea Shepherd’s vessel Bob Barker collide last year. (Photo: AP)
The harpooning occurred deep inside the Australian Antarctic Exclusive Economic Zone, which is a designated whale sanctuary, but is not recognized by Japan.
(circa 2008) A helicopter from the protesters’ ship hovers over the Japanese factory whaling ship the Nisshin Maru as it hauls a minke whale up its slipway. Meanwhile the Yushin Maru No. 2 sails close behind to protect the catch.
Australia’s Environment Minister Tony Burke
said the country was opposed to whaling wherever it occurred, but particularly in a whale sanctuary. “That’s why we have taken Japan to the International Court of Justice.” Burke has rejected the call to send an Australian vessel to the area. He says the focus should not be just on whether the whale was killed in Australian territorial waters, but on the issue of whaling itself. “It doesn’t matter what part of the ocean it is. In Australia’s view, it is just as illegal,” he said.
Japanese crew from the harpoon vessel blast the protesters with water cannon while watched by the Steve Irwin’s helicopter
Japan uses a loophole
in a 1986 global moratorium on commercial whaling that allows “lethal research” on whales and sets out to kill hundreds each year. The country makes no secret that the meat ends up on dinner plates and has pushed for a resumption of full-fledged commercial whaling, accusing Western nations of insensitivity to its cultural traditions.
Adult minke whale and her calf being towed up the ramp of a Japanese factory processing ship in Antarctic waters in February 2008. (Photo: Australian Customs)
The recent stand-off
came despite a United States court injunction on the Washington state-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS), against attacking the whalers, or approaching within 500 yards.
Japanese Whaling catch.
Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research has begun a contempt action against SSCS over an alleged breach of the injunction. The activists argue that control of the anti-whaling campaign is in the hands of Sea Shepherd Australia, and out of the U.S. court’s jurisdiction.
Japanese whaling in Faroe Islands.
The Japanese whaling industry is struggling
after several years of militant activists scuttling the catch and a lower demand for whale meat. The Japanese government is being forced to prop up its whaling program with taxpayer-funded subsidies.
Sea Shepherd Australia
is a non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. SSA uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately balanced oceanic ecosystems, SSA works to ensure their survival for future generations.
First Light Productions 
so austrailia had juisdiction over those waters then? if not why is austrailia dictating policy to japan? I thought they were soverign country, you do know japan doesn’t have enough land to grow their own food, if you prevent them hunting the oceans how will they eat? how many austrailians, americans europeans eating fish and shark and the like from the oceans? do you really have a right to depreive people of their food? is japan really a villian or is emtionalism being used to counter logic to get an agenda passed that has little to do with saving whales and everything to do with getting rid of compeitition for other countrys’ commercial fishermen? is china behind it? after all they dont like the fact that japan is not under their control, or maybe russia? the usa? maybe they are funding sea sheperd or others to destroy the economies of other countries so they can use desperation for food as a ploy to get control over those countries? who what why how and who benefits are good questions to ask of why nations do what they do to deprive another nations of it’s right to hunt for food. it is not like they are doing it for sport like some people do so they can put it on the wall.
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Thank you for posting and for continuing to raise public awareness of this travesty. This is not only a crime completly based in greed and pride, but is also a crime against our endangered wildlife, the planet and the future survival of ALL species. The whole world should be screamin’ their f-ing heads off to assure that this is stopped. It is surreal that the only men with enough guts to take action are the HEROES of The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Like you, I will continue to write and post and share and speak out. If I had a gazillion dollars and a big enough boat, I’d be out there too. 🙂
Many Blessings!
~Gerean