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Sea Shepherd Update: New Zealand and Australia Finally Investigate Crash
photo by Scootie (image source: Flickr)
Earlier this month, there was an incident involving the Ady Gil vessel (of the Sea Shepherd fleet) and the Shonan Maru No. 2 (which is with the Japanese whalers). To make a long explanation very short, the Shonan Maru No. 2 rammed the Ady Gil, causing irreparable damage to the vessel and now the Ady Gil is somewhere on the ocean floor. Both sides blame each other for the crash and some form of official intervention is needed.
Now that we are more or less up to speed on things, here is where the update on matters begins. Recently, the Steve Irwin had to dock in Western Australia to refuel. During their time in port, members of the Ady Gil crew met with New Zealand officials to discuss what happened. According to crew member, Laurens de Groot:
“I just came from the interview with the maritime safety authorities in New Zealand. They’re trying to get an objective view on the whole incident and they will come to their conclusions, but it’s pretty obvious to me who did this.” … “I think when you see the footage it kind of speaks for itself. The five of us were on top of the vessel. Our ship was idle; pretty much drifting. We were in no engagement whatsoever at that point. At that point they were absolutely the aggressor, trying to hit and overrun us. There’s no doubt in my head who did it.”
Questioning the crew is only one phase of the investigation. There may be a bit of good news for both the whales and the Sea Shepherd crew in the next phase. You see, commercial whaling was banned in 1986. However, the IWC (International Whaling Commission) allows the hunting of whales for scientific research. Right now, the Japanese are hunting whale in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. This area is supposed to be a protected place for whales and dolphins. Japan—who has been long known for their commercial whaling activities—is believed to be using the “scientific research” excuse as a cover-up for commercial whaling.
So, what exactly is this other phase I am talking about? Australia and New Zealand scientists are planning to head out on their own whale research expedition in the Antarctic. Their purpose is to disprove Japan’s argument that whales must be killed to be studied. The expedition is expected to take approximately 6 weeks. They will be initially setting out to the Ross Sea, located near Antarctica. Once there, the researchers will use darts to remove small amounts of tissue for biopsy sampling. They will also perform satellite tracking and acoustic surveys in order to collect data on whale movement, population genetics, and how the whales interact with the sea ice and ecosystem.
Nick Gates, chief scientist of the expedition and head of the Australian Antarctic Division’s Australian Marine Mammal Center explained that “you can always come up with some question that will require an animal to be killed for something or other, but the question is whether that is a critical issue for the management and conservation of whales”.
Tensions are definitely high between the Japanese, Sea Shepherd, and other parties involved with the situation. It still remains to be seen if any further actions will be taken or charges made. As for the expedition, whether or not it has positive results will most likely not change anyone’s feelings towards whaling. The Japanese will still try to find a way to continue whaling and fortunately, Sea Shepherd will still be there to stop them.
By Heidi Marshall
Tags: Ady Gil, Antarctica, australia, investigation, Japanese Whaling, New Zealand, scientific expedition, Sea Shepherd, Shonan Maru No. 2, Whale Wars
8 Comments
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I would like to see an alliance made called “PLANET EARTH” to mainain consumption and processing of whales through National Wild Life Conservation . And each country have to pay xxxxx amount of dollars for a permit likewe do here for an allowance of Game. If we could regulate the population to satisfy an equal agreement and understanding to the Nations of the earth. Consiquenses of unpermitted Whaleing should consist of heavy fining and seisure of ship to the auction to receive the funds for PLANET EARTH. Planet earth should be a center neutral funding to take care of the earth and the ocean and species regenerating and research studys and conservation authority. This is my opinion. Also If taging a whale ,there shouldn’t be hoisting.
So I have a not so stupid question. What is the purpose of the Japanese research? If it is for migration, this can be done without slaughter. If it is done for DNA sample this can be done without slaughter. No need for slaughter, oh wait sorry forgot about the cheaper prices for sushimi.
Well I think the best thing one can do is blow the Japanese whalers to hell. Blow up their ships with everyone in them. This is a case where violence can only be solved with violence. I also don´t get USA´s attitude towards these monsters. Why don´t we just stop trading with the Japanese, why don´t we prohibit the Japanese to study in the US? I really don´t get it.
Dave Head, I fully agree with you. There have been many quota type systems that failed due to people/countries just ignoring them, like tuna. But the current system where Japan sets their own quota is basically the same as no quota, and just about anything would be an improvement. Observers would be one way to help regulate the whalers and adding stiff international penalties for any individual/country found violating their quota.
lee, the US government ‘peddles’ cheese to schools. Does that mean the cheese industry is dying? Whale meat is stored so that a supply exists all year long not just during whaling season. Many other types of food are treated the same way. Potatoes are a good example. Most of the potatoe crop is stored so that there is a constant supply through the year until the next crop is harvested. Just like the whale meat the inventory goes way up during the season and then slowly decreases for the rest of the year, to be refilled when the next season starts.
And even if whale was used for pet food, so what? In less you want the pets to starve some source of food will be used as pet food. If whale is cheap enough to make it economical for pet food then so be it, it will also free up some other food (beef, chicken, tuna, kangaroo, etc) for human consumption. You make it sound like using it in schools, nursing homes or pet food is equivalent to throwing it away.
I am a supporter and have made previous donations to sea shepherd. Now, I wasnt there, however it seems a little foolish to sit in front of a vessel you are engaging ,or not ,for whatever purpose. Why wernt the engines running,why wasnt someone ready to gas up and get out of the way? Now an awesome vessel is on the bottom and the crew dam lucky to be here…bring on the investigation results…in the interim , you have my full support to try to save these amazing animals!!
ddpalmer, the ICRW; prior to the ‘zero’ quota “commercial whaling ban’, did in fact set quotas, but soon found out that a few whaling nations[ in particular Russia] filed false returns. Many years later it was found out the Russians had killed many more times the whales they reported on. In fact over half the remaining southern humpback whales population was killed in one season just before the zero quota was set. The next year the absence of HB whales was noticeable along the usual winter\summer route along the NZ coastline. In other words whalers [like most fishermen] can’t be trusted. Thats why a lot of NZ fishing boats carry official observers.
This whole thing is nuts.
THe IWC allows scientific whaling (which we know is all BS) and Japan exploits and absuses that (no one can argue against that.) So the IWC needs some reform too.
Now, the fact Japan spends so much money on a dead industry in which there is no demand for whale meat is beyong me. Especially since theres so much what meat in the deep freeze. (Reports of it being peddled to schools, nursing homes and dog food have surfaced). This is an absolute national disgrace.
Not to mention their tactics and environmental crimes (factory ship, refuelling, dumping of waste etc) in and around Anatartica.
The the ICR / PR machine keeps repeating the same things…”Research”,”Cultural Tradition”,”Same as killing cows”,”Depleting fish stocks”,”Minke’s inhibit recovery of larger whales”… Truly a propaganda machine hard at work.
Im sure their citizens woudl agree – theres more important domestic issues that could do with those funds? Suicide rates, uemployment problems etc etc.
I think the whole article comes down to the quote from Nick Gates, “you can always come up with some question that will require an animal to be killed for something or other…”. So the results of the new non-lethal research won’t effect the Japanese whaling. There is information that the Japanese believe is necessary for the resumption of commercial whaling, which they don’t try and hide is their goal, which requires lethal means.
Although it sounds strange, the best thing to be done to protect the whales would be to remove the IWC moratorium. I know that sounds counter-intuitive but currently the Japanese set their own yearly quota under Article VIII. If the moratorium was lifted and Japan was forced to whale commercially then the IWC would set the quotas. Heck Australia, New Zealand, the United States and other anti-whalers could then apply to whale and use up some of the quota which they would never use but which would further reduce Japan’s quota.