Activists, whalers battle near Antarctica

February 2, 10:02 AMEnvironmental News ExaminerJ McMahon

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Activists battle whalers today off Antarctica (AP Photo)

Members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society accused Japanese whalers of attacking them this weekend with sound guns, water canons, concussion grenades and other weapons in frigid waters near Antarctica.

Two Sea Shepherd activists in inflatable boats were slightly injured by water canon and metal balls thrown by the whaling crew as they tried to obstruct the launch of harpoons, said Paul Wilson, captain of the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling vessel, the Steve Irwin. A Japanese government official denied the accusations.

"If our crew can hit them, then they would be better off quitting the research vessel and joining a professional baseball team," Shigeki Takaya, assistant director of Japan's Far Seas Fisheries Division, told the Reuters News Agency.

Takaya admitted the whalers used water canons and "beeping warning tones," but protested that the activists hurl bottles of dye and foul-smelling butyric acid (rotten butter) at whaling vessels. Sea Shepherd has also deployed a helicopter to document the whaling activities.

Whale hunting was banned by a 1986 International Whaling Commission moratorium, which Japan has sought to overturn each year. Japan continues to kill about 900 minke and fin whales per year in what it calls a "scientific whaling program." Most of the resulting whale meat is sold on the Japanese market.

"What is important is that despite the violence from the whalers, no whales are being killed," Capt. Wilson said. "They can't get away from us, and if we keep on their tail they can't kill whales."

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