The 5th season of “Whale Wars” will kick off in June as Captain Paul Watson and his Sea Shepherds fight for their “Operation Divine wheel Campaign.”
The engagement, currently under way features Watson and his crew (along with 100 volunteers) aboard three ships, the Bob Barker, Steve Irwin and Bridget Bardot, in a continued battle with the Japanese whaling group Institute of Cetacean Research.
While the ICR’s practice of harpooning and processing has the backing of the Japanese government, Watson and the Sea Shepherds contend that their activities” violate agreements that ban whaling in international waters.”
Although commercial whale hunting has been banned since 1986, the Japanese (reportedly) continue to hunt the giant mammals in the Northern Pacific and Antarctic waters under an exemption which allows “some kills for research purposes.”
“Whale Wars” is one of the highest rated shows on Animal Planet and has been nominated for an Emmy five times. Whaling was an important part of Connecticut’s history for nearly 300 years, and ranked number three among industries in New England behind textiles and shoemaking during most of the 19th century.
To learn more about the whales found in Connecticut waters today, and what is now being done to conserve and protect them, readers can contact the Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Ave., Mystic, CT 06355 860 572-5955.
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