Sea Shepherd May Have Brought Japanese Whaling To A Halt

fis.com, 18 February 2011

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) has successfully interfered with and caused the halt of Japan’s whaling operations in the Antarctic Ocean, a Fisheries Agency (JFA) official said this week.

The animal rights organisation’s efforts have caused government officials to consider bringing the fleet back to port earlier than usual.

"The Japanese government blames the anti-whaling movement for the (possibility of) bringing the fleet home early," Greenpeace Japan Secretary General Junichi Sato confirmed.

Sea Shepherd funds its operation with donations and has in recent years been increasing its strategies to fight the efforts of Japanese whalers in the Antarctic Ocean, reports The Japan Times.

"It's looking very much like they've thrown in the towel and heading back to Japan, we're definitely moving in the right direction,” rejoiced Sea Shepherd captain Alex Cornelissen.

Japan’s reaction has been dismal.

"The Nisshin Maru (whaling fleet mother ship) has been chased by Sea Shepherd vessels since 10 February and thus the fleet suspended whaling since then," said Tatsuya Nakaoku of the Whaling Section of the Fisheries Agency's Far Seas Fisheries Division. "We are considering several options (to deal with the current situation), but nothing has been decided."

"We find Sea Shepherd's harassment extremely regrettable," he added, reports NZPA. But Paul Watson, the head captain and SSCS founder, is suspicious about Japan’s real intentions.

"They're going one of two places: they're either doing a great circle to Japan or they're going back to the whaling grounds. We haven't got a confirmation in Japan so there's really no 100 per cent guarantee that they're going to leave," he reasoned.

Watson assured that his crews would continue to monitor the Japanese fleet and monitor the Nisshin Maru’s movements, AAP reports.

Sea Shepherd has caused growing concern among governmental bodies, as shown by recent Wikileaks cables that disclosed classified material sent by the US embassy in Tokyo to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The four documents reveal Japan’s keenness to cut down on its whaling in Antarctic waters if the US takes action against the conservation group.

In the past few years, the SSCS has garnered popularity and support largely due to its presence on the hit reality TV show 'Whale Wars.'

Source: fish.com