Sea Shepherd 'Leviathan' to challenge Japanese Whaling

"We get called lots of things but the bottom line is that Sea Shepherd is not a protest organisation."

"We intervene against illegal activities in accordance with the United Nations World Charter for Nature that allows for non-government organisations and individual intervention to uphold international conservation law." he said.

The Leviathan is a 54 metre, ice class, long range ex-patrol vessel that has the capacity to catch the whaling fleet. The $2.6 million ship is currently being refitted and made campaign ready. "We plan to be in Australia by early to mid-November. In the meantime, we have a helicopter to be serviced and the Farley Mowat to prepare, as well as a crew of volunteers to recruit, so this will keep us quite busy for the next few months." said Paul Watson.

"We are also working hard at raising funds. We took out a bank loan to enable us to purchase this ship. The cost was $US2 million ($A2.6 million) which is more than our annual budget," he said. Sea Shepherd are planning to depart from Melbourne on December 2 to intercept the Japanese whaling fleet.

Last whaling season the Japanese whaling fleet fled at high speed when the slower Farley Mowat intercepted them. The Greenpeace ships were able to keep pace and their protests hindered whaling efforts and brought graphic coverage to the world of the illegal commercial whale slaughter, done under the name of scientific research.

The 2006/2007 whaling season will see the whaling fleet chased by two Greenpeace vessels and by two Sea Shepherd vessels. Japan will be targeting 850 Antarctic piked (Minke) whales, 50 endangered humpbacks and 50 endangered fin whales. Ninety percent of the whales that are targeted will be in the Australian Whale Sanctuary.

It has been reported that the Japanese fleet will be increasing its defences. "I am unconcerned about whatever plans Japan has to defend their illegal activities," Captain Watson said. "We are quite willing to instigate an international incident over this."

Although Sea Shepherd tactics were criticised by the Australian Environment Minister, Senator Campbell, last year, Captain Watson said “We appreciate what Senator Campbell has said and done, we really do,” said Captain Watson. “We understand that he has restrictions placed on him by the reality of economics and politics. We don’t ask that he supports us, we just ask that he refrain from attacking us and agree to disagree with Sea Shepherd tactics if he wishes, but to recognize that we have the same objectives.”

“We also hold the same position with respect to the Greenpeace Foundation,” continued Captain Watson. “We want Greenpeace to send two ships to the Sanctuary. They may not want us down there but we want them there. The whales need every bit of support they can get and although Greenpeace remains hostile to Sea Shepherd, we at Sea Shepherd understand that strength lies in diversity.”

Poor Science

The Japanese 'scientific' whaling program has been repeatedly attacked for its poor science. The whalers determine the age of their 'kills' by extracting a substance similar to ear wax from the dead whale. But a new process has been developed where a sliver of skin from a whale is used to analyse the DNA of the whale and determine its age. The skin sample can easily be collected without slaughtering the whale. The process is being developed by the whale research centre at Southern Cross University in NSW.

The campaign to stop Japanese Whaling has widespread support in Australia. Warrnambool city councillor Jacinta Ermacora raised the issue at a recent visit to Warrnambool by Hideo Yoshida, the mayor of Warrnambool's sister city Miura. Language difficulties prevented a frank discussion, but Cr David Atkinson took Mr Yoshida to the renowned Logan's Beach whale viewing area to see the whales. "It was a great step to take him to the whale sanctuary. It was subtle and we need to keep making more steps." said Cr Ermacora.

"Having a look at the sister city relationship I feel positive about it so I don't think we should avoid challenging issues under the act and discussing the issue of whaling and marine environment even if the least we might get out of it is agreeing to differ." she said.

Sources:

1. Tasmedia: Leviathan: Sea Shepherd calls for Crew

2. The Age, 8 August 2006: Whale campaigners step up offensive

3. CDNN, 4 August 2006: Bigger, faster, more powerful: Sea Shepherd's 'Leviathan' to enforce law against whaling criminals

4. Warrnambool Standard, 15 August 2006: Councillor calls to discuss whaling with Japanese city

5. Sea Shepherd News, 8 August 2006: Only Four Months Until Outlaw Japanese Whaling Fleet Departs for Antarctica