Founder of Sea Shepherd Arrested in Germany

[PhantomWolf]

And one more thing that really fizzles my boat.

The Japanese claim that this slaughter is for scientific research (because that is the only way whaling is allowed these days under IWC rules) and yet everyone on the planet knows that this is comnpletely untrue. New Zealand scientists do exactly the same reseach as the Japanese claim they are, and all without kill a single whale. On top of that, we all know that the Nisshin Maru is not a research vessel, but rather a whale prossessing factory ship, no matter what they paint on the side and signs they hold up. How any skeptic on this board can even stomach to support the blatent corrupting of the use of what is a genuine science to simply get around International Laws and supply restaurant chains with whale meat I really don't know.

 

[mortimer]

The so called limit is whatever the country taking them decides it to be. There is no International oversight of that quota. And even this only exists because Japan uses foreign aid money to bribe poor African and Pacific Island nations into voting against a full ban each time the IWC meets and so allows them to retain the status quo.

Evidence?

Besides, what gives the Japanese the right to come down and take them from our waters just because they cleaned their waters out?

Your waters? What makes the Southern Ocean *your* waters?

Who gives them the right to come into an area where they are being conserved, a sanctuary where there is supposed to be no whaling, and just take what they want?

No commercial whaling. The same Commission that created the sanctuary also allows what Japan is doing.

Also there is conflicting data on if they are rare or not. The Japanese claim they aren't. Other groups claim they are still endangered, and we do know that the Japanese want to expand their operations to include the endangered ones such as Blue Whales.

I'd like to see evidence for this as well. Admittedly, I have not done a ton of research, but everything I've read indicates the minke whale is not even close to being endangered.

 

[PhantomWolf]

For those that don't quite understand why this is such a hot topic for those of us down here, you know those Eagles the US is so proud of, and has made a protected speices? How would you feel if I brided a bunch of US senators so I could come and do some Scientific research by shooting a dozen to two and then turned them into Kentucky Fried Eagle to sell as food, and did it year after year?

Once upon a time the coast where I live had whales swimming about it. It had so many that whaling stations were set up not that far from where I work today. In fact the first white settlers in NZ were whalers. They, and the later generations with factory ships, took so many that we no longer have whales off of our shore. If we aren't willing to protect them from people who are ripping them from the seas tens of thousands of kilometers from where they even live, then who is?

 

[smartcooky]

If I had the resources I would pay an assault team to blow all their ships up out in the middle of the ocean. The guy is a menace, a terrorist and a pirate. he should be dealt with in the same manner is the Somali pirates. With no quarter.

If I had the resources I would pay an assault team to blow all the Japanese so-called "scientific whale research" ships up out in the middle of the ocean, and send additional assault teams to simultaneously scuttle whatever was left in their home ports.

It angers me no end that these bastards are wilfully exterminating a precious, irreplaceable species of intelligent mammal so that well-to-do Japanese can have whale meat on their table. On top of that, they have the sheer arrogance to carry out this mindless slaughter in the name of science!!!

 

[PhantomWolf]

Evidence?

Look at who vites with Japan on the IWC and then how much aid thre Japanese give them per year compared to the countries that don't. It's well known down here what's goijng on even if the rest of the world wants to trun a blind eye to it.

Your waters? What makes the Southern Ocean *your* waters?

The fact that we live down here, the same thing that makes my home mine.

No commercial whaling. The same Commission that created the sanctuary also allows what Japan is doing.

So whaling for meat to sell in Restaurants isn't commercial? The only reason that they can do it is that they are spending money to buy votes to stop a total ban.

I'd like to see evidence for this as well. Admittedly, I have not done a ton of research, but everything I've read indicates the minke whale is not even close to being endangered.

sorry, I made a mistake, it is Fin Whales they are after, and have listed them in their quote since 2005.

Like all other large whales, the fin whale was heavily hunted during the twentieth century and is an endangered species. Over 725,000 fin whales were reported taken from the Southern Hemisphere alone between 1905 and 1976 and there are now thought to be only 38,000 in that region (ref. to 1997). The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has issued a moratorium on commercial hunting of this whale, although Iceland and Japan have resumed hunting: in 2009 and 2010, Iceland took 125 and 148 fin whales, while Japan has taken eighteen fin whales in seven seasons (2005–12) of whaling in the Antarctic

 

[mortimer]

Look at who vites with Japan on the IWC and then how much aid thre Japanese give them per year compared to the countries that don't. It's well known down here what's goijng on even if the rest of the world wants to trun a blind eye to it.

That's not evidence. Not even close.

The fact that we live down here, the same thing that makes my home mine.

I'm not sure exactly where you live, but suffice to say your territorial waters extend 12 miles from the coast. I doubt there's any Japanese whaling being done that close to your coast. Outside that, the Southern Ocean is as much mine, as much the Japanese's, as it is yours.

So whaling for meat to sell in Restaurants isn't commercial?

Not according to how the Japanese are conducting themselves under IWC rules.

The only reason that they can do it is that they are spending money to buy votes to stop a total ban.

You keep saying this, and neglecting to provide any evidence.

sorry, I made a mistake, it is Fin Whales they are after, and have listed them in their quote since 2005.

I am against hunting of endangered species such as the fin whale.

 

[Damien Evans]

It ain't poaching if you have the landowner's permission or otherwise are legally on the property, have a license, and obey the laws relative to what you're after...

Yeah, except that they're in Australian Antarctic Waters and both us and New Zealand have made it abundantly clear that they are not welcome there.

 

[Ryokan]

I'd like to see evidence for this as well. Admittedly, I have not done a ton of research, but everything I've read indicates the minke whale is not even close to being endangered.

There's no controversy over that.

 

[Ryokan]

For those that don't quite understand why this is such a hot topic for those of us down here, you know those Eagles the US is so proud of, and has made a protected speices? How would you feel if I brided a bunch of US senators so I could come and do some Scientific research by shooting a dozen to two and then turned them into Kentucky Fried Eagle to sell as food, and did it year after year?

Appeal to emotion.

If you have evidence that Japan, or any other whaling nation, targets endangered whale species, please present it.

The reason why Japan has to use weasel words like 'scientific research' for their whaling is that they were pressured into a bad deal with the IWC by the USA.

Norway wasn't pressured in the same way, never accepted the ICWs ruling or authority, and therefore are allowed to hunt as we please and call it what we will. Although a fraction of the population of Japan, we hunt about as many whales, and not even making a dent in the minke whale population.

 

[Damien Evans]

I'm not sure exactly where you live, but suffice to say your territorial waters extend 12 miles from the coast. I doubt there's any Japanese whaling being done that close to your coast. Outside that, the Southern Ocean is as much mine, as much the Japanese's, as it is yours.

Look at where the Japanese are whaling. then look at the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic islands in the area, and see who owns them (Hint: It starts with either an A or a N, depending on the island). Also, you're forgetting the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Whale_Sanctuary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heard_and_McDonald_Islands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Antarctic_Territory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macquarie_Island

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Antarctic_and_subantarctic_islands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Whale_Sanctuary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_Economic_Zone#Australia

 

[Damien Evans]

Appeal to emotion.

If you have evidence that Japan, or any other whaling nation, targets endangered whale species, please present it.

The reason why Japan has to use weasel words like 'scientific research' for their whaling is that they were pressured into a bad deal with the IWC by the USA.

Norway wasn't pressured in the same way, never accepted the ICWs ruling or authority, and therefore are allowed to hunt as we please and call it what we will. Although a fraction of the population of Japan, we hunt about as many whales, and not even making a dent in the minke whale population.

Yes, but are you doing it in someone elses waters, without their permission, then claiming they're not their waters when caught doing it? I doubt it.

 

[mortimer]

Yeah, except that they're in Australian Antarctic Waters and both us and New Zealand have made it abundantly clear that they are not welcome there.

What exactly makes the Southern Ocean Australian?

 

[Ryokan]

Yes, but are you doing it in someone elses waters, without their permission, then claiming they're not their waters when caught doing it? I doubt it.

That's an entirely different discussion. If Japan is doing that, then of course that's unacceptable.

 

[Damien Evans]

What exactly makes the Southern Ocean Australian?

What a stupid question. The same thing that makes the part of the Pacific surrounding American Samoa American.

 

[Travis]

I see that everyone is again pretending Sea Shepherd only oppose whaling. They also ram fishing ships that have nothing to do with whaling.

 

[philkensebben]

Quibbling about whether or not Japan is whaling in illegal grounds is pointless. Regardless of where they shoot harpoons, it seems Sea Shephard will be behind them. Whale Wars-Viking Shores illustrates this. I suppose proving the Japanese are in illegal grounds will win internet points, but to Sea Shephard its bluff and bluster. They oppose whaling because they love whales.

Atleast this is my understanding of them after watching Season 1.

 

[theprestige]

What exactly makes the Southern Ocean Australian?

Economic Exclusion Zones are a legitimate thing.

Japanese whalers should respect Australia's EEZ.

And, quite frankly, Australia should do more to enforce their sovreignty in their EEZ.

 

[philkensebben]

Economic Exclusion Zones are a legitimate thing.

Japanese whalers should respect Australia's EEZ.

And, quite frankly, Australia should do more to enforce their sovreignty in their EEZ.

Only recognised by 4 countries, including, funnily enough, Norway.

 

[smartcooky]

What exactly makes the "Southern Ocean" Australian?

Not the "Southern Ocean"

He is talking about the territorial waters of the Australian Antarctic Territory. It was established in the Antarctic Treaty of 1961.

I don't think the Aussie Government is acting strongly enough.

They should warn the Japanese to stay out, and if they don't, then board the their ships and arrest the captains. Escort the ships back to Australia. If the crews refuse, take them off, by force if necessary, and then scuttle the ships.

Do that with every Japanese Commercial whaler until they get the message.

BTW, for the removal of doubt, I am a financial supporter of Sea Shepherd (albeit in a small way, I donate NZ$600 p.a. through my business) and thoroughly back their actions in making it as difficult as possible for the Japanese to take whales. These guys are not out there for a bit of fun, they are out in the freezing antarctic waters risking their lives to protect defenseless animals in a marine sanctuary from poachers.

 

[Ryokan]

BTW, for the removal of doubt, I am a financial supporter of Sea Shepherd (albeit in a small way, I donate NZ$600 p.a. through my business) and thoroughly back their actions in making it as difficult as possible for the Japanese to take whales. These guys are not out there for a bit of fun, they are out in the freezing antarctic waters risking their lives to protect defenseless animals in a marine sanctuary from poachers.

Sea Shepherd has sunk six Norwegian ships since '92. How is that not terrorism? They're lucky they haven't cost anyone their lives.