Japanese whaling fleet sails for the Antarctic
21/12/2006 00:00:00November 2006. Six Japanese whaling ships have left Japan for the heading for their usual whaling grounds off Antarctica. They plan to kill over 800 Minke whales and 10 rare Fin whales this ‘season’, and it is also feared that they will start hunting Humpback whales too.
Fin whales, listed as ‘endangered’ by the World Conservation Union, are second only to the blue whale in terms of size, growing to average lengths of 18-22 meters and weights of 30-80 tons. They were hunted in significant numbers by whalers in the past, and their population figures are currently unknown.
The 2006/2007 whaling season in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary is poised to be the most confrontational and volatile anti-whaling campaign to date. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a charity dedicated, amongst other things, to bringing an end to ‘pirate whaling’ has been planning and preparing its annual campaign to disrupt the whalers wherever possible.
‘Our objective is to place ourselves in harm’s way to protect these gentle, intelligent, and socially complex sentient beings,’ said Founder and President of Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson. ‘I have a courageous crew willing to sacrifice their holidays away from their families and willing to risk their lives in one of the most hostile regions on this planet against one of the most ruthless adversaries on this planet.’
The 2006/2007 whaling season in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary is poised to be the most confrontational and volatile anti-whaling campaign to date. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a charity dedicated, amongst other things, to bringing an end to ‘pirate whaling’ has been planning and preparing its annual campaign to disrupt the whalers wherever possible.
‘Our objective is to place ourselves in harm’s way to protect these gentle, intelligent, and socially complex sentient beings,’ said Founder and President of Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson. ‘I have a courageous crew willing to sacrifice their holidays away from their families and willing to risk their lives in one of the most hostile regions on this planet against one of the most ruthless adversaries on this planet.’
‘We’re ready,’ said Engineer Willie Houtman from New Zealand. ‘This will be my third campaign south and I’m feeling confident we can stop the harpoons this season.’
The Sea Shepherd crew will include volunteers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Great Britain, Bermuda, France, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Brazil. The crew are men and women from all walks of life ranging in age from 18 to 60.
Last season, the Sea Shepherd crew chased the whalers for more than 3,000 miles along the Antarctic coast. They forced the whaling fleet supply vessel to flee the area and engaged the Japanese fleet three times.
‘Last year the fleet was faster than we were and they were able to outrun us.’ said Captain Watson. ‘This year we have a few surprises for them.’
Courtesy of the Sea Shepherd Society and IFAW.
The Sea Shepherd crew will include volunteers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Great Britain, Bermuda, France, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Brazil. The crew are men and women from all walks of life ranging in age from 18 to 60.
Last season, the Sea Shepherd crew chased the whalers for more than 3,000 miles along the Antarctic coast. They forced the whaling fleet supply vessel to flee the area and engaged the Japanese fleet three times.
‘Last year the fleet was faster than we were and they were able to outrun us.’ said Captain Watson. ‘This year we have a few surprises for them.’
Courtesy of the Sea Shepherd Society and IFAW.
