Customs must monitor whaling: Hunt

24 Dec 2012, 2:41 pm   -   Source: AAP
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The opposition says an Australian customs vessel must monitor the whale hunt in the Southern Ocean. (AAP)

The opposition says an Australian customs vessel must monitor the whale hunt in the Southern Ocean. (AAP)

The federal coalition says there is a risk of a dangerous conflict in the Southern Ocean between Japanese whalers and the anti-hunt group Sea Shepherd.

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The opposition has called on the federal government to send a Customs vessel to the Southern Ocean to monitor the annual whale hunt.

Environment spokesman Greg Hunt on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Julia Gillard saying it was vital an Australian vessel be present in case of any clashes between Japanese whalers and the anti-hunt group Sea Shepherd.

"There is a real risk of conflict or collision causing injury, death or a major environmental spill in the event of a sinking," Mr Hunt said.

"I therefore call on you to dispatch the Customs vessel immediately before it becomes to late."

Mr Hunt says the stakes are high given Sea Shepard's "zero tolerance" campaign to prevent the death of any whale. He previously wrote to Ms Gillard about the issue on December 11.

Last week, Australia warned Japanese whaling vessels it won't tolerate protesters being threatened.

In a joint statement on Friday the Australian, US, New Zealand and Netherlands governments urged responsible behaviour from whalers and protesters and condemned "any actions that imperil human life at sea".

The call came after a US appeals court issued an injunction ordering Sea Shepherd and its head Paul Watson not to physically attack or endanger the whaling ships.

The protest ship must remain at least 450 metres from them at all times, the court ruled.

The order was sought by the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), which undertakes the Japanese government's whaling programme through a loophole in International Whaling Commission rules that allows whales to be killed for research.

The two sides have previously clashed, with protesters throwing glass bottles containing paint or butyric acid at the whaling ships, and the whalers responding with water cannons.

A resolution passed by the International Maritime Organisation in 2010 compels whaling vessels to ensure the safety of protesters during demonstrations, rallies or confrontations on the high seas.

Australia remains resolutely opposed to commercial whaling, including so-called "scientific" whaling, and has expressed concern about hunting activities in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

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The main game

Francis Armstrong - from Oyster Cove, Gold Coast, 4 months ago

The Japan whalers defy international law & Australian Court orders to desist from whaling in the Ross sea & Australias marine park. Why? Because our politicians do not have the courage of their convictions. Canberra pays lip service to conservation & targets its naval efforts on stopping people fleeing here from oppressive regimes. Under the pretence of research, Japan plunders endangered species in Australian waters & treats the Shepherds with contempt. When will the popularity penny drop?

Mr

Carl - from Glendale, Wis, 4 months ago

It is a bit sad to see Paul Watson have to step down. I'm sure he didn't make this decision lightly. If the world would wake up to what is happening EVERY country would be giving him honorary citizenship, instead of issuing injunctions against him. What would killing all the whales do to the planet? No one knows, that is the big problem. Carl

Send the Navy to arrest those Jap whalers

Paul Watson - from Australia, 4 months ago

They are breaking the law.

We should all stop suporting those Japs

colin - from perth , 4 months ago

We need to send a message to Japan. That Australians will stop visiting Japan and also buying any product from Japan. If they don't stop killing whales. Besides the whales don't belong to them in the first place. We need to look after them for our Kids and their kids etc NOT end up on a Jap dinner plate.

what up with the australian Gov to let this bulship happen good on ya paul sorry to see you go

Colin - from Perth Australia, 4 months ago

whats up with the australian govermment. They should be 150% behind Paul and the crew to help them kick the Japs in the ass and assist them to stop Japan killing whales. Who do those Japs think they are. Thats why we have a Navy. Send them down there to help the Sea Shepherd crew. Tell Japan to piss off the Australian way. And why would we listen to a US court. They should have a bloody good look at there own people running around the world killing poor weman and kids in their so called wars.

Australian government, grow some balls and stop Japanese whalers!

jason wander - from australia, 5 months ago

How is this even possible that our governement is just watching and doing nothing while the last of the antarctic blue whales are slaughtered? This is our heritage for our children, not only for us Australians but for the whole darn planet! Dear Australian governement, stand up for our heritage and stop this insanity!!

The Whole Truth Org of Australia, Inc

Richard Mann - from The Vines, 5 months ago

Australians should be up in arms about Japan's defiance of International Law. It seems absurd that Japan STILL has over 700 tonnes of whale meat in deep freeze they cannot seem to sell. It is a dying trade that is subsidised heavily by the government...and yes, it is true millions of dollars were used from tsunami relief funds generously donated by other countries, including Australia, to provide extra security for Japanese Whale slaughtering vessels. Come on Aussies. Let's stop this insanity.

SSCS Crew Member, waiting for the call

Errol E. Povah - from Vancouver, CANADA, 5 months ago

SHAME on the Japanese government, for diverting $30 million of Tsunami Relief donations to this barbaric "hunt" which, from their perspective -- from their high-tech killing ships -- is about as 'challenging' as killing dolphins in a swimming pool...speaking of which, they do that in Japan too, in Taiji! SHAME on the Captains and crews of every ship in the Japanese whaling fleet, who claim to be human! SHAME on anyone who consumes any part of whales and dolphins! And SHAME on world aquariums!

Bogus research.

Paul Crane - from Mobile, Alabama, 5 months ago

Anyone with just minimal research experience and statistics knows that real research would not require anywhere close to the number of whales the Japanese are killing. If they were really doing research then max 20 whales in total would suffice. In addition, anyone doing research should be familiar with bioethics. I highly doubt that could find any reasonable justification to kill this number of highly intelligent animals. Only in Japan is this considered ethical. This is NOT research.

Observer Ship

Erik - from North Addie, 5 months ago

I really don't think the greenies have thought out their actions and desires as yet. The LAST thing Cap'n fatso wants is government observers watching and recording his acts of piracy. His own recordings have constantly had him shooting his own foot off while running that sewage trap he calls a mouth. They yell for "justice", but ignore any and all laws that think think hinder themselves...

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