Sea Shepherd vows to stop Japanese whaling fleet

‘This killing is not for need and not for profit'

October 2011: Japan has confirmed its whaling fleet will be returning to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, despite public protest. The Japanese government has allocated £17 million to boost security for the fleet.

IN ACTION: Sea Shepherd take on the whalers Picture: Gary Strong

Marine wildlife conservation organisation Sea Shepherd, which has long battled with Japan about its whaling, says the decision does not make financial sense and now seems to be a matter of misplaced pride. It has launched Operation Divine Wind in a bid to halt the killing.

‘It now seems the Japanese government is simply obsessed with killing whales not for need, and not for profit, but because they believe they have the right to do what they wish and kill whatever they wish in an established international whale sanctuary, just for the sake of defending their misplaced "honour",' said Sea Shepherd's Captain Paul Watson. ‘It's a disgrace.'

'They will have to kill us to stop us intervening'
Sea Shepherd will return to the remote waters for their Eighth Antarctic Whale Defence Campaign with a stronger anti-whaling fleet in early December 2011 to protect the great whales.

‘They will have to kill us to prevent us from intervening once again,' said Captain Watson. ‘Are the Japanese people ready to take human lives in defence of this horrifically cruel and illegal slaughter of endangered and protected species of whales? Do we have to die to appease Japanese honour?

'If so, my answer to the Japanese government is "hoka hey" - Lakota for ‘it's a good day to die' - and we will undertake whatever risks to our lives will be required to stop this invasion of arrogant greed into what is an established sanctuary for the whales.'

Operation Divine Wind will send more than 100 volunteers to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to defend the whales. ‘We intend to stop them and we will stop them - that's a promise,' said Peter Hammarstedt, first officer on Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker.

This will be the eighth year that Sea Shepherd has sent ships to the coast of Antarctica to frustrate the profits of the Japanese whaling fleet. It saved more than 800 whales during last year's Operation No Compromise.