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What’s not to love about whales? The zen-like creatures of the deep are known to be intelligent, wise, and proficient at communicating with each other. Evidently, some cultures also consider them to be, well, sad to say…tasty.
Just the thought of whales being harpooned for the dining pleasure of the Japanese elite under the thinly veiled guise of “research” is the driving force behind a new hit show on Animal Planet called “Whale Wars”. It premiered in November of 2007 and just launched into the second season. This one promises to be more dramatic than ever, because the Sea Shepard fleet has been increased from one vessel, the Steve Irwin, to a total of three. The 2008-2009 season will include numerous confrontations with Japanese whaling ships, intense chases through ice, and several boat collisions.
Captain Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepard Conservation Society, and his crew are dedicated to stopping the Japanese whalers from killing the targeted Minke and endangered Fin whales and they are prepared to take aggressive action to accomplish their mission.
Are the Japanese legally entitled to kill them? That depends on who you ask. Watson and his organization, believe that killing whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is illegal, even if Minke whales are not considered endangered. They understand the risks and dangers, but believe it is worth it to save as many whales as they can.
On the other hand, the Japanese claim they have the right under an agreement with the International Whaling Commission to harvest 900-1000 whales in the Antarctic for “research” purposes, but Watson sees it as blatant commercial whaling, done for profit using inhumane and barbaric tactics.
As the smallest rorquals, minkes were the last to be exploited by whalers when the larger animals had been reduced to a level where they were no longer able to be profitably exploited, so the minkes were targeted as the species of last choice. Minke whales are not considered to be particularly threatened. Estimates have placed the minke population in the Southern Hemisphere in the range of 200,000-416,700 whales.
How many whales have been saved by Animal Planet’s new reality show? According to Watson, During the 2008-09 hunt (summer in the Antarctic), Japan fell 305 minke whales short of its quota, so Sea Shepherd is taking credit for saving those whales. The whalers killed only one fin whale, so Sea Shepherd is saying it saved 49 fin whales.
"We saved 500 whales the year before, 500 whales the year before that and 83 whales the year before that," Watson boasted.
But the World Wildlife Fund says that fishing is only a minimal threat to whales and that 90% of whale fatalities can be blamed on collisions with ships. Only this week, an oil tanker bound for Valdez apparently collided with a humpback whale and dragged the carcass into the harbor on the bow of the ship. In the same week, even more publicized, was a dead whale found wedged onto the bow of a cruise ship. As a result, special shipping lanes have been set up off Cape Cod to reduce collisions between ships and the extremely endangered northern right whales, which migrate through the area. It is hoped that these collisions will be reduced by an estimated 74% during the migratory season. Changes in shipping lanes around the world and the development of new technologies are making a real difference in reducing the number of whale non-nature mortality rates.
Entering its second season, the controversial “Whale Wars” has found itself being cheered and jeered.
A recent article in the Huffington Post accused the Sea Shepherds, based in Friday Harbor, Washington, of being abolitionist animal rights activists. They believe that every whale is sacred and should be preserved. On this basis, they justify aggressively interfering with and attempting to disable whaling ships in international waters. They have been seen positioning their Zodiac boats between a whale target and the Japanese whaler. Reportedly, they have rammed whaling boats who refuse to back off their prey.
Waston doesn’t deny being aggressive. ''You don't beg criminals to stop doing what they're doing,'' Mr. Watson said in the first episode last season. ''You intervene, and you physically and aggressively shut them down.''
"People think we're sort of arrogant in what we do," he said. "But as I always say, our clients are whales and we don't really care what people think. We're more concerned with what the whales think. Find me a whale that disagrees with what we do and I'll reconsider."
The documentary-style “Whale Wars” may be what some people consider eco-terrorism, but there are plenty of others who think the Sea Shepard’s crew are heroes—including, one can only speculate—the whales.
For photo credit run cursor over photograph * Copyright Jean Williams 2009 * Author also writes under pen name DelilahStarling. Permission to reprint up to three paragraphs with a direct “read full story” back to this page. Contact creatinggreenpiece@juno.com
Comments
Whales were around far longer than humans they survived for millions of years and we as human's are the ones who are going to make them go extinct! It disgusts me the thought of a dead sea. We protect people from ciminals and killers why shouldn't someone be there to do the same for animals?!
God bless you. We have to stand up for the creatures of the sea as well as the land. I firmly believe that the Japanese have become so corrupted that they are willing to kill whales at an astounding rate and defend they murderous whaling fleet just so that the elite can have their nice seafood fillet. They are violating international law that bans whaling, but yet not a word is shouted against the whalers in the media because they are the very dictators of conformity that has spread worldwide. The best we can do is stand around hop that these bastards eventually get what they deserve.
I'm happy to hear commercial shipping routes are being diverted to minimize whale collisions.
I agree. Thanks for your comment.
Honestly I'm indifferent about whale hunting if it is truly sustainable. If people want whaling to end, then eliminate demand for the product, change laws.
The Sea Shepherds claim they bring "direct intervention" to the conservation table. They claim organizations like Greenpeace are do-nothings who are just there to witness... well, Greenpeace does get laws changed.
I think the Sea Shepherds "direct action" does little to stop whaling, and hampers efforts on other fronts more critical than the line Watson has drawn in the Antartic.
SS is going to get somebody killed... people who are just there doing a job. The guy running the harpoon is not getting rich doing it. SS use toxic chemicals in their stink bombs (Butyric Acid is not benign, look up the MSDS and LD-50 for skin contact). They uses slicking agents for decks (didn't a Japanese Sailor fall overboard right after the threw the slicking agents on the same ship?).
I feel for the whales, but SS's approach is unjus
If the SS weren't down there defending the whales, would anyone stand up for these ILLEGAL Japanese whalers? You feel for the whales but the tactics are unjust? Unjust is when an innocent mother whale swimming by her baby surfaces near a boat out of curiosity, only to get shot by a harpoon grappling hook gun, struggling to fight for its life, unable to protect its baby, bleeding out and squirming in pain, and slowly dying in a matter of 15 to 30 minutes, leaving its baby to die in the ocean, and finally be shot after struggling (sometimes its takes longer that 30 minutes to die because of the size). THAT is unjust my friend.
The word Eco Terrorist is used to try and undermine the efforts of people who are trying to make our planet a better place. The Sea Shepherds are true heroes they don't just talk they take actions with no personal gain to themselves unlike the money making Greenpeace types!
"eco-terrorist"? The term has been overused to point of its evolving into meaninglessness.
Closer to home in the Pacific Northwest, our 85 chinook-eating Southern Resident orcas (listed as endangered under the ESA) are teetering on the edge of extinction. Their traditional diet is 80% chinook (also mostly endangered) and 15% chum, and they won't expand their menu even when it means starvation and death, which is what happened from 1995 to 2001. To avoid starving this clan of orcas we'll need to restore upstream habitat in the Columbia and Snake Rivers by opening up the Snake River dams to allow those winter and spring chinook to spawn in Idaho and Wyoming, along with every other river system from California to British Columbia. And we'll need to restore streams by replacing culverts and planting trees, and restore near-shore habitat like pocket estuaries needed by salmon smolts, and we'll need to reduce chinook catches.
Orcas live according to traditions. They don't harm humans or each other and they don't overpopulate their habitat. Let's stop taking their food away.
Humans are omnivores, relying on animal protein. Plus 3/4 of the world is covered by the oceans so sustainable hunts/fishing at sea should be supported. The US government should have yanked Sea Shepherd's corporate status long ago. Support your local whaler/sealer/fisherman! I prefer Deadliest Catch over the Sea Shepherd Show featuring Captain Kangaroo!
Sea Sheppard is a band of Pirates.
I'm a professional mariner, and the idea of commercial whaling disgusts me. However, the idea of these Pirates putting other mariners, who are doing what they think is right and legal, in harms way, to get good TV reviews is even more disgusting. Sea Shepard has no right to police the high seas, because they do not think their governments are acting strongly enough.
My wife is Japanese and she is against whaling as well, but it will be hard for her to convince her friends to support her point of view when Japanese law, government and culture is being attacked along with those whaling ships.
If you want to change the system, work within it.
About this essu,,I see that if hunting whales is for noble reasons like trying to study more about them,,while kipping them elive ofcource!!!
this step could be helpfull for scienc,,so I agree if it is that way..But if the reason was only for fun or for any useless aim,,I actuly
refuse that,,and those who do that are pathedek and do not now what to do with there lives or with there mony!!!!It is acrime!!!and they should be stopped..this ia my opinion,,,what do you think people??
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) are heros!!! If we (humans) kill off the whales, we kill the oceans, we kill the oceans then we die...it's a circle. We need to protect the oceans to protect our own life...
The SSCS have never been convicted of a major crime, despite sinking 10 whaling ships...
List of ships sunk by the SSCS:
Sierra
Susan
Theresa
Isba I
Isba II
Hvalur 6
Hvalur 7
Senet
Nybrena
Morild
NOBODY WAS INJURED OR KILLED IN THESES "ATTACKS"!!!
Sea Shepherd is not a terrorist group!!!
I'm not in favor in commercial whaling and believe international laws should be harmonized to protect them. I've watched a few episodes of Whale Wars. The Sea Shepard crew is nothing but a group of amateur pirates and am perplexed why anyone would glorify their sophomoric actions.
The international laws ARE in place, but no one will enforce these laws out of fear of international dispute. Anyone who saves ocean life should be glorified. Ocean life was flourishing before humans invaded their natural habitat The Sea Shepards have never injured or killed anyone along their many campaigns, which does NOT sound very 'sophomoric' to me. Pick your battles more wisely, because you cannot have a side if you supposedly disagree with both!
While I love the whales and do not like the idea of them being fished for food, I find my self watching and rooting for the whalers. the Sea Sheppards are nothing but bumbling idiots.
Sea Shepherd wishes they had three ships! They have one ship and two inflatable boats - the Japanese outnumber them three to one in the recent episodes. In any event, they are heroes - they are actually doing something to save the planet instead of talking about it!
I was a crew member aboard the Fairly Mowat during the 05 seal campaign. Although we did not use Butyric Acid during the course of that campaign we did have a bottle or two spill and break. The result was that the ship smelled for a bit and we all had fun, albeit smelly, laugh out of it. If it is benign enough for the SSCS's own crew it is good enough for whalers.
I would also like to comment on the disputed claim of how many whales where saved. Yes, there are other threats to whales and all other marine life. However, a resumption of commercial whaling would be death nail for the whales. I suggest that the SSCS's goal of shutting down this commercial whaling venture here and now would be much more effective than trying to shut down all the nations whaling ships if the ban on commercial whaling was lifted. Make no mistake. This is exactly what the Japanese whalers want. To plunder the whales in the same manner as the almost extinct bluefin tuna stock.
Marsha, you dumb twit: Decent, compassionate, intelligent human beings oppose seal-killing thugs and whale butchering savages. Their methods are barbarously vicious and unnecessary, resulting in long, slow, torturous deaths. You must have a vested interest in this evil. No support for them, the terrorists of animals, the environment, and caring people everywhere. To hell with them.
Andy, let me help you with your perplexity. The answer is within TD's post: " ... they are actually doing something to save the planet instead of talking about it!"
That's something to praise in my opinion. I buy the Shepherd's premise that each day they annoy the whalers and keep the mother ship moving is a day the fleet cannot settle down and kill whales.
This is why I like the Sea Shepherds, even though they come off as a little insufferable at times.
Later for talk. Everybody's talking, like we're doing on this blog.
Action is the only thing that counts. If nothing else, the Shepherds are giving the unnecessary and barbaric practice of whaling more attention than it's ever gotten.
For instance, why do the whalers need to kill 900+ whales for "research"? What research? What labs are taking in all this whale meat?
I'm sorry the sea shepards seem very disorganized and very dangerous, mostly to themselves. Watching that show is like watching an auto race, you keep waiting for the big crash. So, now which country has the right to decide what is moral or immoral in another country? When Indian eco-terrorist start assaulting beef eaters will feel they are justified?
I think what the Sea Shepherd is doing is very noble and we should do everything in our power to protect these harmless magnificant creatures!
The Sea Shepherd and Capt. Watson speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves- what a noble cause. The terrorists are those inflicting harm by poaching these majestic marine mammals. Not only do I support the Sea Shepherds on all their expeditions not just the Whale Wars program, I ask our government to play a more active role in demanding justice be served in the South Sea.
To the Sea Shepherds- continue the fight...continue the war...continue speaking for God's creation. Although I cannot be out on the sea- I will be sending in a donation.
You are supported! I commit your mission to prayer.
Paul Watson and his crew are doing what the governments of the world are not; they are protecting those who can't defend themselves. Governments watch and bicker, greenpeace holds banners. Sea Shepherd protects and defends. To those say to work through another system- will that work? Of course it will.
Keep in mind though, by the time any sort of anti-whaling act is enforced, the whales will be dead. Current situation, case in point. Is anyone other than Sea Shepherd doing anything to stop illegal whaling? No. So by all means- try to stop whaling through paperwork. Just try to explain to your kids why whales died off while the bureaucrats bickered.
'nuff said.
What if there was no Sea Shepherd? No Green Peace? I think we know the answer to that question.
The Sea Shepherd is actually doing something. No one else is taking action, and therefore we should give credit to Paul Watson's abilities as a PR man and as a crafty captain. The equipment Watson garnered is amazing (all donations) and the crew are very dedicated to Captain Watson's cause.
Whaling is a difficult subject. Perhaps there are too many whales right now and therefore limited whaling may have some merit. Nevertheless, I personally love dolphins and Orcas. Therefore, if there were a billion of them I would oppose their slaughter. Thus, I understand Captain Watson's zero tolerance for whaling and totally support his efforts.
By the way, I don't think anyone is going to starve if whaling completely stopped tomorrow.
As Mark said if it is self sustainable how is kiling a whale any different then killing a cow, pig or a fish? To me there are much bigger problems in the world then hunting of a species that isnt even in danger.And if these people truly disagree with whaling there are much better ways to go about diminish it
These group of people are nothing more than pirates. Personally, while I would never wish that a person was harmed, I also don't believe that I could blame the Japanese for using lethal means to stop this grup from preventing them from doing their job. The Japanese are not doing anything illegal whether you call it a loophole or not. There is no jurisdiction over international law so these whale activists are lucky that they have not been harmed.
Could you imagine if American crabers portrayed in other Discovery channel shows were harassed by russian ships just because some countries decided it was wrong to eat crab meat
There would be a fleet of navy ships as quick as ligh
It's a frekkin whale sanctuary. It's like going to yellowstone and
shooting bears left and right. Besides the fact that pointing
an lead at a helicopter is attempted murder people. You may
not agree with either side but attempted murder is attempted
murder. Where are the AU authorities after that??? Hiding?
i hope the sea shepard sinks,theyre all eco terrorists
If they really did sink those vessels, they need to be tried for criminal activity on the high seas.
I too hope they are sunk. I would love to see that shown on Animal Planet. Whaling is regulated and the Japanese are operating within the restrictions of the regulations. Just a bunch of hippy wannabees, following a defrocked bully.
Look, its not the same as a cow or a chicken. These animals are not 'farmed'. Watch the videos of the animals swimming away from the ships, knowing something is after it and then it getting hit by a harpoon. As it continues to fight, it gets shot 6 times and after 25 minutes of suffering it dies. All in the name of research? What research beyond the amt of $ they make? Its gross. I am glad there are people out there who care and willing to do somethin abt it. So if you feel there are many other issues in the world, well go do something abt that and let these people be.
i think it would be funny if another country would send a naval gunship to guard the japanese. paul watson is nothing more than a pirate, and a vandal. anyone who agrees with his tactics is basically saying its ok for me or anyone else to go ahead and run you off the road or throw stuff at your car if we dont agree with what your doing. oh you drive a big gas gussler well ill just throw this here brick at you when i pass you. its a different problem and cause but same tactical thinking as paul so it must be ok with you guys that agree with him since its helping the enviroment and all
i think it would be funny if another country would send a naval gunship to guard the japanese. paul watson is nothing more than a pirate, and a vandal. anyone who agrees with his tactics is basically saying its ok for me or anyone else to go ahead and run you off the road or throw stuff at your car if we dont agree with what your doing. oh you drive a big gas gussler well ill just throw this here brick at you when i pass you. its a different problem and cause but same tactical thinking as paul so it must be ok with you guys that agree with him since its helping the enviroment and all
Sea Shepherd should use the helicopter to drop butyric acid on the Nisshin Maru.
What don't the Japanese eat ? It's very cowardly when they run a multi-million dollar industry under the guise of REASEARCH. Sea Shepherd is doing a fantastic job out there. It's very heartening to see this small group of people can accomplish, despite the lack of adequate funding or fleet. Most of the anti-SSCS people I imagine are Japanese or of Japanese origin. I cant wait to see them bringing the Japanese operations to a grounding halt. And with Animal Planet bringing this to TVs all over the work, the increased awareness of Japanese exploits will help bring about a change sooner.
This last episode really kind up the ante. First time I see the whales get killed.
I mean, why even have laws in the book, if you can simply find some cheesy loophole such a research, when you know is false is just for profit.
In the end of the day. As long as this Japs could have that loophole, they will simply be able to do whatever they want.
Also hopefully they find more ways to be able to mess up the Japs operation.
But in the end, this guys just make to much profit, and a couple lone rangers, might simply not be enough..
The Japanese are clearly using a loophole in the whaling moratorium under the thinly veiled guise of "research". Their activities are NOT research and is clearly whaling, which is banned by international agreement. I don't understand how anybody can support their activity.
Even if you think whaling should be allowed, how can you agree that it should be allowed in a whale sanctuary?
Even if you think it should be allowed in the sanctuary, how can you agree with the method of killing?
The methods used to kill the whales is not humane, and not anything like methods used on chickens or cows. The whale is harpooned with a massive spear shot into the animal with a cannon. The whale is then drug on its side, pouring blood and gasping for air. It's then shot with a high-powered rifle at least six times. Sometime later it dies. This is clearly torture and simply should not be allowed.
I'm embarrassed that US Navy won't station a warship in the whale sanctuary to stop this act
The are utter heroes! I fully support their cause
It is clear that they are simply eco-terrorists. If you agree with their cause or not their actions are to incite terror. They even admit that in each episode I have seen. This should scare them this should make them stop This is dangerous but lets do it. They know what they are doing and risk not only their lives but the wahers lives as well with their stupid stunts and collissions. I think the Japanese SDF should arrest them as eco-terrorists and confiscate their ships. Terrorism should never be tolerated. Is it okay for people who think Oil drilling is wrong to throw chemicals on your cars or ram into you? Is it okay if people think you should not eat hambugers to spit on your food? How is it different?
They are simply eco-terrorists. They will end up hurting someone. So killing is Ok to stop killing? Capt Paul has been doing this for 31 years according to his web site. They are still whaling Paul. 31 years of failure is one of the losingest records I have ever seen. With 479K whales of the one type, I see no issue with wacking a few to eat. With the ramming issue being reviewed with the Police, I hope they do time and lose the Sea Shepard. Paul will certainly not be a Capt any more if they press ahead with anything legally.
I think there should be a diplomatic way to resolve our issues. It should be discussed in an interantional forum like Obama has srated in the past, and the rest of the interantional community.
Their just standing up for what they beleive. Is anything wrong with that?
I think that the sea shepherds are the best and any one who disagrees with that will there total lunatics. The people who think whaling is fine will they probably like to see something alive suffer for 25 minutes in a long and horrible death. If you agree with whaling you agree with lies! Don't eat whale, just eat over populated fish.
hahahahahahahaha looks like a few Japanese posting. The Sea Shepherd is FAR from pirates. You don't even know what the definition of a pirate is if you think he is a pirate. Go figure that people believe lies and are disgraced by their own government.
Research my ass. There is no way people need to kill 4 whales in one day just to do 'research'
You make me sick if you think whaling is alright AND NO ITS NOT RESEARCH!
Watson and his merry band of kool-aid drinkers are nothing more than a bunch of eco-facists. I watched the show this season and all I see are a bunch of morons who are a danger to themselves and anyone else around them. My hope is that these terroists are sent to where they belong, jail, before they kill someone. I see their point but the blatant ramming of a ship a sea is too much and i have no sympathy for them.
I'm not surprised that the Japanese are crazy!
Afer all, they eat all the tainted garbage out of the ocean.
Mercury and other toxins have been proven to totally mess your brain up.
The Sea Shepherds are unfortunately stuck with certain rules of engagement.
I wish they could just torpedo these crazy Japs!
Unfortunately they can't, and watching the shows, it shows how woefully out-gunned they are.
To their detractors: What are you doing to save this planet! Eco-facists! You eat whale meat?
This world is essentially doomed, and you go on thinking everything will be solved by science!
While I realize it is a lost cause, at least these people are doing something.
So lead on Sea Shepherd, may all the Japanese whaling boats you meet
end up in the bottom of the ocean!
captain Kangaroo endangers the lives of the Japanese and the crew, Uses dangerous toxic chemicals lookup Butyric acid in MSDS , it is harmful to humans and Marine Life. From SeaShepard.org" Watson quotes"
"Watson feels that "no human community should be larger than 20,000 people," human populations need to be reduced radically to "fewer than one billion," and only those who are "completely dedicated to the responsibility" of caring for the biosphere should have children, which is a "very small percentage of humans." He likens humankind to a virus ( AIDS), the biosphere needs to get cured from with a "radical and invasive approach," as from cancer" So he want's to what exterminate 5 billion people? He is a wacko , no matter how you define it, no wonder Greenpeace kicked him out.
BTW, Iceland stopped whaling last year due to Greenpeace and a effective education campain. In 32 years he has done nothing, Most whales are killed by ships. why not spend the money decreasing that? Oh, TV..
Sea Shepherd are awesome!!!
Whales have been on earth for over 60 million years, which in my opinion give them seniority. Yet, human’s, the cruelest creator on earth has brought these gentle giants to near extinction! All for money or shear sport!
Whales have been on earth for over 60 million years, which in my opinion give them seniority. Yet, human’s, the cruelest creator on earth has brought these gentle giants to near extinction! All for money or shear sport! I applaud what the sea shepherds are fighting for and think the Austrian’s and other countries supporting them are wonderful.
I would love to know my grandchildren had the opportunity to watch any whales in their natural environment, instead of looking at their bones at a dinosaur museum! People that disagree with me cannot speak for their future children or grandchildren!
they are heroes in every sense of the word. they are living for an extremely noble cause. Save the whales. May they be successful and brave enough to continue . God bless them
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