Sea Shepherd prepares to tackle Japanese whalers

25 Nov 2011, 11:47 am   -   Source: Carol Holmes, SBS
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The Bob Barker docked in Sydney before heading to Hobart for the voyage to the Southern Ocean. (SBS)

The Bob Barker docked in Sydney before heading to Hobart for the voyage to the Southern Ocean. (SBS)

Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd is expecting one of its most intense campaigns against Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean this season.

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Environmental activist group Sea Shepherd is preparing for a three month voyage to the Southern Ocean and is expecting one of its most intense campaigns yet against Japanese whalers.

Three Sea Shepherd vessels – the Steve Irwin, the Bob Barker and the Brigitte Bardot – with a total of 88 crew members will head into Antarctic waters in December for what they call 'Operation Divine Wind' (or Kamikaze) with the objective of stopping Japanese whaling activities.

It's Sea Shepherd's eighth voyage to the Southern Ocean. The organisation claims that its harassment tactics last season forced the Japanese whaling fleet to cut short its hunting trip with a fraction of its usual catch.

But this year Sea Shepherd could be in for a surprise. Japan has reportedly allocated $30 million to assist its whaling fleet.

"We have no idea what they're going to do, but we do know that the Japanese coast guard and the military will not be involved," Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson told SBS. "They say it's out of their jurisdiction. So anything the whalers have will have to be private security or mercenaries or they'll have to charter a faster boat."

Sea Shepherd and the whaling fleet have a history of confrontation in the Southern Ocean. The activists' attempts to blockade the 'factory ship' to prevent the whalers from loading and processing their haul have resulted in collisions and damage on both sides. Other harassment tactics include propeller fouling and "illegal boarding" and throwing projectiles.

The whalers, represented by the Institute of Cetacean Research, maintain these harassment tactics are illegal and tantamount to piracy. How they respond this season remains to be seen.

'LOOPHOLE'

Japanese whaling activity in the Southern Ocean is a contentious issue. The area was designated a whale sanctuary by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1994. Japan continues to hunt whales in the sanctuary under an IWC provision permitting whaling for "scientific research". Japan allocates itself a quota of about 1,000 whales, mostly minkes, per year for "research" purposes, but many scientists say this research program fails to meet the standard for credible scientific research.

LEGAL ACTION

Australia "strongly opposes Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean," says Donna Petrachenko, Australia's commissioner to the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

In May 2010 Australia initiated legal action against Japan in the International Court of Justice. The court has ordered Japan to file its response by March 9th, 2012. Japan is likely to hold fast – as well as its scientific claim it has always disputed the legality of the sanctuary.

"We believe that we have a very strong case, that Japanese whaling is against international law in terms of the international convention on the regulation of whaling," Ms Petrachenko told SBS.

Sea Shepherd's Paul Watson doesn't have much time for diplomatic or legal channels to end whaling and says the Australian government should take stronger action.

"Diplomacy has failed. This court case will go on and on and on and maybe it might get a resolution in 2016 or something in the meantime whales are dying," he told SBS.

"Australia and New Zealand should be down defending these whales in this sanctuary and by ordering the Japanese whaling fleet out of the area. All Australia has to do is show up with a war ship and say ‘out of here’ there’s not going to be any argument, Japan will leave.”

The Bob Barker will leave Hobart in December to head down to the Southern Ocean to be joined by its two sister ships.

VIDEO: The crew of Sea Shepherd vessel Bob Barker show us around their ship and explain what it's like on a trip to the Southern Ocean to chase the whaling fleet.

 

INTERVIEW WITH PAUL WATSON Captain Paul Watson talks about Sea Shepherd's anti-whaling activities.

INTERVIEW WITH IWC REPRESENTATIVE Australia's commissioner to the International Whaling Commission, Donna Petrachenko, talks about moves to end Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean.

(Note: You can also watch these videos on SBS World New Australia's YouTube channel)

Whaling , Sea Shepherd

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Your Comments

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ACT, DON'T JUST TALK

Bruce - from Monmouth, 1 year

Stop buying Japanese goods - tell others to do the same - tell your supplier why! Nothing else that little guys like us can do. Also support the Sea Shepherd team in any way you can, even if just morally.

People don't change

Ezra - from Denmark WA, 1 year

This so-called scientific whaling is an evil practice by a culture too cowardly to admit what they're really after. Japanese have not changed at all since the days they tortured people and sent them on death marches in the war. Down with the whalers! Go Sea Shepherd!!

Japan's whaling

Richard - from Oshawa, 1 year

Just stop buying Japans manufactured products and tell the supplier why you are doing so. We can whine as much as we want, no body cares we are not important as one or even thousands; but as millions with a movement of preference NOT to buy the ecconomy is affected. I applaud my brothers and sisters who brave the sea and the boats to make change. But they need our help in everything we do and purchase. Cheers

Funding for Whale Killing

Jenny - from Perth, 1 year

I read this morning the Japanese are bankrolling their whale hunt using money given for victims of the earthquake & tsunami. The Australian Govt donated money for the victims and I'm damn sure I don't want my tax dollars funding any killing of whales. I am disgusted and will be geting on my soap box again especially to those councils who have Janpanese "sister" cities, they should be having a big rethink.

To James from Sydney

Robyn - from Perth, 1 year

By accusing "white people" of blaming "coloured people", it sounds like you're being just as racist and abstract as the subject of your objections. Sweeping generalisations that are not grounded in fact, in my opinion, are anything but constructive. Back on topic though, can I ask why hasn't this loophole been addressed?!

Japan please stop whaling

whale wars watcher - from New York State U.S., 1 year

Japan, please stop whaling. Support of whaling is a disgrace for your nation. Calling this research admits your understanding that it is wrong to hunt whales, admits the wrong you are committing. Stop whaling now. Stop killing such beautiful creatures. For every whale that is murdered, we are all diminished.

humans

jjj - from coffs harbour, 1 year

I dont see once was and james doing much to save any creature , human or animal,and they eat food while the poor struggle and dave will not be going to norway for any reason ,funny how you guys use this platform and not another , as well as realist who comes across as a lover of japanese scientific expeditions,bet all you lot would never do something as bold except on your keyboards..?

Madness

Wa - from Wembley, 1 year

Great work Sea Shepherd. Shame on any one who would wish harm to the majestic whales that do so much more for mother Earth than any of us can imagine, let alone comprehend. As humanity evolves we will look back at the barbaric practice of harming whales as an act of madness.

Facts

realist - from real world, 1 year

The ignorance of some of the people commenting on here is staggering. The Southern Ocean Sanctuary is not recognized by any Government except Australia and New Zealand. Australia cannot send an armed vessel to intervene because they are not Australian waters! The "Sanctuary" is in international waters, which is why Watson goes there. He would never get away with what he does in anyones territorial waters. He would have been sunk or arrested years ago. That is why he won't go back to Norway.

Corporate Greed

JoeBloggs - from Earth, 1 year

A Japanese corporate entity is trying to make money out of the murder of sentient beings who are threatened with extinction and they intend to do their murdering in the internationally recognised South Ocean Whale Sanctuary and despite the fact that commerical whaling is illegal. These people bring utter shame on Japan. No reasonable person can dispute those very simple facts. Go Sea Shepherd! do what you can to save as many whales as you can from the greedy and corrupt of this world.

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