Anti-Whaling Activists, Japanese Whalers At Odds Over Missing Sailor

Sea Shepherd, the Greenpeace splinter group that sails around Antarctic waters harassing a Japanese whaling fleet in hopes of reducing its whaling activity, is now defending itself against claims of interfering with a search for a man overboard:

Japanese whalers accused hardline anti-whaling activists on Wednesday of disrupting a search for a missing sailor believed to have drowned after toppling overboard in stormy and frigid seas close to Antarctica.

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson told Reuters by satellite phone that he only offered to help with the search and had contacted search and rescue authorities in New Zealand to volunteer use of his ship's on-board helicopter.

Sea Shepherd are the subject of a television show on Animal Planet called "Whale Wars." The second season, if and when it airs, will likely include actress Daryl Hannah, who was a member of the 45-person crew that embarked in December.

The crew believes that Japan's whaling activities are illegal.

Japan officially stopped whaling under a 1986 global moratorium, but continues to cull hundreds of whales for research. Much of the meat ends up on dinner tables.

Comments

[Melchedekan]

The japanese whaling fleets will conjur up any sort of slanderous accusation against Sea Shepherd.
Paul Watson is not only my favorite vegan on Earth, but he is also my favorite person.

[totalliberal]

We should be doing research on Japanese whaling ships. You know, pull them up on the shore and dissect them. See what makes them tick.

It's odd that the Japanese think of themselves as being the most civilized people in the world, yet they encourage this kind of illegal behavior. How very rude of them to lose face like this in front of so many people.

[unscum]

I'm doing a research project to see if certain whale can be taught to read. Is it possible?

[SimJack]

I'd like to know where the animals go that are collected for 'research' and what becomes of their body parts. If not shipped to a legitimate marine biological research institute then where? There should be a requirement for independent oversight monitors to be on board so that proper records can be maintained and peer-reviewed audits can be performed. Otherwise this is just blatant BS and it should be investigated and stopped through governmental pressure. That we give the Japanese barbarians a pass on this and look the other way speaks volumes about our collective indifference about the welfare of individual species, ecosystems and the planet as a whole.

[totalliberal]

Wanna know what happens to them. Go to Japan and order it in a restaurant. It costs a fortune.

[kolorkin]

steve is a little chubby for a vegetarian though - something i've always wondered. must be all that junk food on the ship.

[sculptor]

It's likely the oceans are going to biologically crash within a decade or so (possibly a lot sooner if some maire biologists are correct) therefore I'm pretty sure this is all a totally meaningless exercise.

[lucien pmstar]

sea shepherd is in fact doing what from a legal stand point the aussie govt the un the usa all the signatories to the iwc & antarctic treaties should be doing there is also an aussie fed court injunction against the japanese whaling in the internationally recognized whale sanctuary that is mostly in aus . territorial waters . .. ( curious side note ; deep water , away from coastal waters,large cetacean (whale) hunting is a "tradition" that only goes back to 1945 suggested by gen MacArthur us army during the occupation ) ... in relation to the man overboard sscs did not have any thing to do w/ him going overboard but did in good seaman tradition both via aus coastgaurd and directly to the whaling fleet via vhf radio in english & japanese (as they were one of the closest vessels

[kolorkin]

im with ya mate.

[totalliberal]

Hard-line anti-whaling activists. WTF does that mean. They are trying to enforce a law that is being ignored by hard-line Japanese whale eaters.

[LeeCalif]

Japan is as barbarian today as when they invaded China.

[kolorkin]

that's a little harsh. the chinese hasn't exactly been kind to the enviornment or the millions and billions of animals slaughtered alive for their furs or put into chinese medicine or simply for food. you should know that 90% of all animals illegal poached are exported to asian countries and china being a top destination and don't even get me started with shark fins!!!!

japan i think has done a lot more with respect to their enviornmental policies than china. remember kyoto protocol?

wars are terrible and shouldn't be forgotten. but let's not mix things up.

[philosopherkingtomas]

is that Kenny Rogers !

[FabulousAt52]

Look, according to agreed upon international laws, either whaling (for ANY reason) is Legal, or NOT Legal. One or the other. Can't have it both ways.
If it is illegal and Japan IS breaking international laws regarding the harvesting of whales, and no one else is bothering to do anything about it except Sea Shepherd-- then Gods Bless 'em, go for it Sea Shepherd!!

[Idablu]

I agree!