Latest On The Sea Shepherd The Best Friend Whales Have On The Icy Seas
Japan called their fleet of whaling ships home a month early from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, blaming the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for forcing them out of the waters.Thanks to Sea Shepherd, only 172 whales were killed this season — about a fifth of the quota of 985 whales set by Japan — and the whales that swim in the Southern Ocean are safe for now. Captain Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd, followed the whalers until they were out of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, officially ending the Operation No Compromise campaign this season.
Japan didn't leave happily, however, and has demanded that Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands take action against Sea Shepherd. But they may not get what they want from the countries; Australia has already taken legal action against Japan, and New Zealand has expressed its opposition against whaling.
Japan says they feared for the lives of their crew members, and had no other choice but to call back their four whaling ships.
Cheering crowds welcomed Sea Shepherd as they pulled into port in Hobart, even as Australian police searched the Bob Barker and Steve Irwin vessels of Sea Shepherd (as called for by Japan). But they didn't find anything and even called the search a "waste of police time."
Sea Shepherd has long been committed to using non-violent methods of harassment in the fight against whaling, such as throwing stink bombs, chasing whaling ships and placing themselves in the line of fire between whale and harpoon.
Watson is optimistic Japan will finally give up on killing whales, but if they don't, he'll be back with his crew next year.
Patrick Ramage, director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare Global Whale Program, applauds the victory and is also hopeful Japan will give up on its whale hunt in the sanctuary.
Japan continues to practice whaling under terms of "lethal scientific research," though it's largely accepted that they are taking advantage of a giant loophole in the international ban on whaling. It's no secret the whale meat ends up on plates in restaurants and school cafeterias.
This is the first time after seven years of activism in the Southern Ocean that Japan has called off the hunt early. It is a great victory for Sea Shepherd and the whales. The group is now headed to Libya to protect bluefin tuna.
Help make Sea Shepherd's victory permanent. Sign the petition to tell the International Court of Justice to end Japanese whaling.
Renee Evans is a longtime animal advocate and co-founder of Animal Liberation Racing in Salt Lake City. She lives with four adopted dogs and three rescued hens.
Comments