Category: Animal Rights/Liberation

Japan Confirms Sea Shepherd Success in the Southern Ocean

Operation Zero Tolerance has been Sea Shepherd’s most effective campaign to date.

The Japanese Institute for Cetacean Research, the front organisation for Japanese illegal whaling activities has released their kill records for 2012/

Operation Zero Tolerance has been Sea Shepherd’s most effective campaign to date.

The Japanese Institute for Cetacean Research, the front organisation for Japanese illegal whaling activities has released their kill records for 2012/2013.

They wanted 50 Humpbacks. They took none.

They wanted 50 Fin whales. They took none.

They wanted 935 Minke whales. They killed 103.

832 Minke whales not slain! 50 Humpbacks and 50 Fins not slaughtered!

During the 2010-2011 Operation No Compromise, the Japanese whaling fleet took 17% of their illegal self-allocated quota. During the 2011-2012 Operation Divine Wind, the Japanese whalers took 26% of their illegal self-allocated quota.

 103 Minke whales and zero Fin whales and zero Humpback whales translates into 9.96% of their combined quota. The whalers took only 11% of their Minke whale quota and zero percent of their Fin and Humpback quota.

These percentages translate into a financial disaster for the Japanese whalers. The overhaul of Nisshin Maru alone cost $24 million dollars. Outfitting, fuelling and operating costs added an additional estimated $11 million dollars. That figure may be much higher. Going on the conservative estimate of $35 million dollars, means that it cost the whalers a minimum of $340,000 per whale. There are only two words to describe this, “economic lunacy”. In addition there is the loss of prestige and the anger of the international community directed at the Japanese people.

Sea Shepherd would have reduced the killing much lower if not for the sucker punch delivered at the eleventh hour by the Ninth District Court of the United States that effectively knocked Sea Shepherd USA out of Operation Zero Tolerance by granting the Japanese whalers an injunction against intervention by Sea Shepherd USA.

Sea Shepherd Australia immediately swept up the banner, carried it down to the Southern Ocean and delivered the most determined campaign ever mounted to shut down the unlawful poaching activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Sea Shepherd Australia predicted that the take would not exceed 10% and the overall take was indeed just under 10%.

“Sea Shepherd Australia is elated that we have delivered the worst season to date to these whale poachers from Japan. These poachers have shown a complete disregard for cetacean life, human life and Australian and International law. By targeting protected and endangered whales in a whale sanctuary and risking massive oil spills in the pristine Antarctic wilderness, they are showing the world their contempt for ocean life and for the global community who has consistently called for an end to whaling," said Jeff Hansen, Sea Shepherd Australia Director.

"One whale killed is still one whale killed too many. However, today we celebrate the fact that with courage and conviction in the face of great danger and adversity, the brave crews of the four Sea Shepherd ships were able to successfully prevent the Japanese whaling fleet from reaching more than ninety percent of their self-allocated quota. This has meant saving the lives of 932 threatened, endangered and protected whales,” said Captain Peter Hammarstedt.

"Nine years ago on Sea Shepherd's first Whale Defense campaign the lives of 85 whales were saved. At the conclusion of the 9th Antarctic campaign, that number has increased 11-fold to 932. Operation Zero Tolerance is by far Sea Shepherd's most successful campaign with the kill numbers being the lowest since the illegal research-whaling program started. It is a definitely an epic moment in Sea Shepherd's history, however it is an even bigger one for the whales. Never has the sanctuary been more peaceful. While the crews and the ships bore the brunt of the violence at the hands of the Japanese Whaling Fleet, the whales were spared the harpoons,” said Captain Siddharth Chakravarty.

 

Whaling fleet in chaos as scattered Japanese poachers abandon harpoon ship dangerously low on fuel.

MELBOURNE, Australia  — An anonymous source within Korea has reported that the Japanese whaling fleet is in total disarray, with Sea Shepherd Australia’s ship the SSS Sam Simo

MELBOURNE, Australia  — An anonymous source within Korea has reported that the Japanese whaling fleet is in total disarray, with Sea Shepherd Australia’s ship the SSS Sam Simon tailing the refuelling tanker for the Japanese whaling fleet, the Panamanian-registered and South Korean-owned vessel Sun Laurel.  The Sam Simon plans to follow the Sun Laurel in hopes to track them straight to the Nisshin Maru.

The source detailed that the Sun Laurel was only contracted to refuel the Japanese whaling fleet until mid-February, but because Japan's Whaling Program is so closely connected to their commercial fishing interests, they are using their clout within the fishing industry, attempting to pressure the Sun Laurel to refuel the whalers below 60° in Australia's Antarctic Territory, with the threat of blacklisting the Sun Laurel from future contracts if they don't abide.

Sea Shepherd Australia Director, Jeff Hansen states, "The Yushin Maru is in a desperate situation, quite possibly unable to get to safety in the event of an emergency. The Japanese whaling fleet wouldn't be in this predicament if they weren't pariahs for their illegal whaling; unwelcome to refuel in any land-based port without scrutiny and banned from Australian ports, they must hire a refuelling vessel simply to be fuelled for their illegal poaching.  These poachers are in contempt of an Australian Federal Court ruling and should not be in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in the first place. The South Korean vessel, the Sun Laurel is supplying fuel to the illegal operations of the Japanese whaling fleet, which is akin to supplying equipment to elephant poachers in Africa."

Operation Zero Tolerance Co-Campaign Leader, Bob Brown stated, “Once again, Japan's whaling fleet is flouting international law. Now it is drawing in the Government of South Korea, which so wisely decided against whaling last year. South Korea should order this tanker to turn around and go home. Otherwise it invites world condemnation instead of the praise it so recently enjoyed.”

The source reported that the Yushin Maru is separated from the fleet by hundreds of miles, very low on fuel and unable to proceed unless refuelled.  This indicates that the Yushin Maru has been totally abandoned by the Nisshin Maru and the rest of the Japanese whaling fleet in their hour of need.

Captain of the SSS Steve Irwin, Siddharth Charkravarty recounts: "While in pursuit of the Nisshin Maru, the Steve Irwin picked up the Yushin Maru as a tailing vessel, riding extremely high out of the water, indicating that they were very low on fuel.  A few days later when the whalers tried to swap the Yushin Maru with a fully fuelled Yushin Maru No. 3, the Steve Irwin instead chased the Yushin Maru in the opposite direction of the whaler's factory ship for 150 miles.  During this chase, the Yushin Maru was unable to reach their full speed of 20+ knots, but was barely able to eke out 16-17 knots, confirming that they were low on fuel and hence running at a more fuel-saving speed."  Since then, this Korean source reports, the Yushin Maru is conserving their meagre fuel stores and is unable to cover the ground between them and the Nisshin Maru.

Rather than remain with their sister ship, or even transfer fuel to them, the Yushin Maru No. 3 instead chose to abandon the Yushin Maru in the treacherous waters of the Southern Ocean in order to chase the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin.

Sea Shepherd Founder, Paul Watson says, "This action shows the negligence of the whaling commander, not only for the sanctity of the whales of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, but an utter and total disregard for the life and safety of the crews who work on these death ships.  Last year, on Operation Divine Wind, when one of Sea Shepherd's ships, the Brigitte Bardot, was compromised, we stopped our entire campaign to escort them to port and ensure their safety.  It's not surprising that the whalers share no such camaraderie for one another, since their entire motive for being in these waters is ruthless greed."

Captain Peter Hammarstedt, aboard the SSS Bob Barker said, "Operation Zero Tolerance has had victories in so many forms, from intercepting the whalers' fuelling vessel, and thus cutting their season, to pulling two-thirds of the fleets' harpoon ships entirely out of operation, and keeping the sole remaining harpooner with the factory ship running, stunting their progress, and severely limiting their ability to poach Antarctica's pristine waters.  We also intercepted the whaling fleet before they had a chance to fire a single harpoon."

The Bob Barker continues to chase and hunt the whalers' butchering ship, the Nisshin Maru, unencumbered by a tail, and aided by a fleet of aerial scouting drones.

http://www.seashepherd.org.au/news-and-media/2013/02/10/japanese-whaling-fleet-abandons-harpoon-vessel-nearly-empty-on-fuel-1491

Sea Shepherd Activists Make January a “No Kill” Month

The month of January, usually the prime whale catching month for the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean, has come and gone without the death of a single whale, says Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Australia Director Jeff Hansen.

The month of January, usually the prime whale catching month for the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean, has come and gone without the death of a single whale, says Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Australia Director Jeff Hansen.

It is the international organization’s ninth Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign, Operation Zero Tolerance. This season’s campaign is under the direction of Sea Shepherd Australia, now that founding president Paul Watson has handed authority to Hansen and former Australian Greens leader and senator Bob Brown.

Authority was transferred in December in compliance with a U.S. court restraining order and after Watson’s escape last summer from Germany, where he was detained on bail for possible extradition to Costa Rica.

The Sea Shepherd fleet of four ships, one helicopter, drones, and more than 120 volunteer crew from around the world has to date succeeded in keeping the four-vessel Japanese fleet of “research” whalers separated on the run, making it impossible for them to catch whales, Hansen says.

As an observer, Watson remains aboard the Sea Shepherd vessel SSS Steve Irwin, named in honor of the late Australian naturalist and broadcaster.

Watson says he will “document the campaign” against Japanese whaling in Antarctic waters. The Steve Irwin is captained this season by former first officer Siddharth Chakravarty of India.

Now two interlinked battles are underway – in the courts and at sea, where ships from both sides are maneuvering to block each other.

On January 31, the Japanese whaling security ship Shonan Maru No. 2 entered the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone around Macquarie Island, chasing the Sea Shepherd ship, the SSS Bob Barker.

The Bob Barker headed for World Heritage listed Macquarie Island to lose the Shonan Maru No. 2 and escaped the Japanese vessel on Friday.

Captain of the Bob Barker Peter Hammarstedt said, “The Shonan Maru No. 2 is an integral part of the Japanese whaling program. On board are armed storm troopers from the Japan Coast Guard whose sole mission is to violently prevent my crew of whale defenders, many of whom are Australian citizens, from upholding Australian domestic law and international law protecting whales.”

The Australian government officially notified the Japanese government to order the Shonan Maru No. 2 to remain outside of Australian territorial waters, including the waters around Macquarie Island.

Since 2008, the Japanese whaling fleet has been in contempt of an Australian Federal Court order that prohibits them from killing whales in Australian territorial waters. Despite the ruling, Japan’s Institute for Cetacean Research announced that it intends to kill nearly 1,000 minke and 50 endangered fin whales during its 2012/2013 whale-hunting season in the Southern Ocean.

Only the Yushin Maru No. 2 remains with the factory ship Nisshin Maru and both vessels are far north of the whaling area and running from conservationist vessels.

Co-Campaign Leader Bob Brown said, “The first 24 hours of contact with the whale poachers have been a victory for Sea Shepherd and a complete loss for the Japanese whaling fleet. I am delighted to report that not a single whale has been harmed so far.”

The speedy Sea Shepherd ship Brigitte Bardot has chased the Japanese whaler Yushin Maru No. 3 some 300 miles to the south.

Today, a lawyer for the whalers is threatening the Sea Shepherd with contempt of court action, claiming the Brigitte Bardot breached the order granted by a U.S. appeals court that restrains Sea Shepherd vessels from approaching within 500 yards of Japanese whalers.

The December 17, 2012 injunction issued in Seattle, Washington by U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals states, “Defendants Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Paul Watson, and any party acting in concert with them, are enjoined from physically attacking any vessel engaged by Plaintiffs the Institute of Cetacean Research, Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, Ltd., Tomoyuki Ogawa or Toshiyuki Miura in the Southern Ocean or any person on any such vessel, or from navigating in a manner that is likely to endanger the safe navigation of any such vessel.”

Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha operates the whaling fleet for the Institute of Cetacean Research, a government agency, while Ogawa and Miura are believed to be senior officers.

The injunction responds to an appeal by the Institute for Cetacean Research against the decision of a U.S. District Court judge, who refused to grant an injunction.

The injunction will remain in place until the court decides on the merits of the Japanese case opposing Sea Shepherd in Washington State, where the U.S. chapter of the group is based.

The whalers’ lawyer claims that, in violation of the injunction, the SSS Brigitte Bardot came within 20.25 yards of the Yushin Maru No. 3 on January 29.

Today “The Age” reports that the group’s Melbourne lawyer takes the position that Sea Shepherd Australia is responsible for the group’s Antarctic campaign and the Australian chapter is not subject to the restraining order of the U.S. court.

The U.S. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has no shares in, nor control over, the Australian chapter, which is now run by Australians – Hansen and Bob Brown, the former senator and leader of the Australian Greens.

Watson was arrested in Germany last May on a 10-year-old Costa Rican warrant, issued after a Sea Shepherd vessel he commanded intercepted a Costa Rican shark-finning vessel and was escorting it to a Costa Rican port. The Guatemalan government sent a gunboat to force release of the shark fishing vessel, while Costa Rica charged Watson with attempted murder. Costa Rica has since banned shark finning.

Watson jumped bail and left Germany on July 22, 2012, saying that the Costa Rican warrant was a maneuver intended to deliver him to Japan.

At the request of Costa Rica, Interpol has issued a Red Notice asking for information about the whereabouts of the 62-year-old who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada.

Brown has been a conservationist for decades, both before and during the time he represented the state of Tasmania in Parliament.

“I am honored to serve the great whales of the Southern Ocean and Sea Shepherd in this way,” Brown said. “My admiration for Paul Watson is inversely proportional to the Japanese government’s anger at Sea Shepherd’s success at preventing the slaughter of almost 4,000 whales in recent years.”

The Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet’s Emmy-nominated show “Whale Wars” has documented the Sea Shepherd’s whale defense campaigns for the past five years and is also onboard this season.

ALF/ELF sabotage road construction at Combe Haven

reported anonymously:

"Combe Haven. 7th-8th January 2013.

Acting in solidarity with the campaign against the Bexhill-Hastings link road, activists sabotaged contractors attempts to force local wildlife to migrate away from the site of the proposed road.

reported anonymously:

"Combe Haven. 7th-8th January 2013.

Acting in solidarity with the campaign against the Bexhill-Hastings link road, activists sabotaged contractors attempts to force local wildlife to migrate away from the site of the proposed road.

Wire mesh and wooden doors covered all but one entrance to each badger sett in the area, in an attempt to encourage the badgers to move into human-built setts prior to mating season. The mesh and doors surrounding the badger setts have since been dismantled to encourage the badgers to stay in their habitat of choice.

Newt-nets have also been set up by contractors with the same goal in mind, plastic sheeting staked along the route of the road a foot below and above ground, forcing newts, insects and other small animals out of the area. Thus these nets have also been attacked, torn out of the ground and
smashed.

Not only do these actions allow wild creatures to exist where they choose, but slows the build of the road, as the contractors attempt to greenwash their mindless destruction of animal habitats and local natural environments by 'sparing the animal's lives' in this manner and cannot proceed with the road building until they say they are certain that the local wildlife has migrated away from the site of ecological destruction.

After witnessing the surveyors dismay upon noticing the trashed nets, these acts of sabotage will only continue and increase in their severity until those who choose convenience and profit over life have suffered at least equally in their fight for the absolute control and destruction of the natural world.

ALF/ELF."

OVER 50 PARTRIDGES FREED

"Over 50 partridges were boxed up from a breeding facility and taken to a public wildlife reserve where shooting is banned. Their release was quick and they all flew off into the night.

Until all are free! – Animal-Liberation-Front"

"Over 50 partridges were boxed up from a breeding facility and taken to a public wildlife reserve where shooting is banned. Their release was quick and they all flew off into the night.

Until all are free! – Animal-Liberation-Front"

SEVEN MORE DUCKS SAVED

"ALF break into factory farm and liberate 7 Aylesbury ducks who had no access to water. All have gone to good homes.

Until every cage is empty,

The Animal Liberation Front"

"ALF break into factory farm and liberate 7 Aylesbury ducks who had no access to water. All have gone to good homes.

Until every cage is empty,

The Animal Liberation Front"

ALF FREE 123 DUCKS FROM FACTORY FARM

"In Norfolk UK on the 26th of August 2012 a cruel factory farm breeding ducks for meat in which they were fed on growth exhilarating chemicals and have no access to water for swimming and living in their natural way, had it's fence cut open, doors smashed in and 123 prisoners freed and sent to loving temporary homes, soon to be freed back into the wild.

"In Norfolk UK on the 26th of August 2012 a cruel factory farm breeding ducks for meat in which they were fed on growth exhilarating chemicals and have no access to water for swimming and living in their natural way, had it's fence cut open, doors smashed in and 123 prisoners freed and sent to loving temporary homes, soon to be freed back into the wild.

This is not hard, all of you compassionate people CAN JUST DO THIS! Take action tonight. Hit them hard and hit them often right where it hurts. You do not have to be a ninja to liberate, you just need good bolt cutters, some strong boxes and homes offered by people you can trust.

Until all cages are empty and all prisoners freed from abuse and exploitation, we will continue the war.

For Liberty and Justice for all

The ALF"

 

Japan Dolphins Day 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around 100-150 protesters held a rally outside the Embassy of Japan in London yesterday (31st August 2012) to send a clear message to Japan on the eve of the Taiji dolphin slaughter season- END THE UNNECESSARY & CRUEL MURDER OF DOLPHINS IN THE COVE. Similar events were held at Japanese embassies around the world, with thousands of passionate  people from all walks of life and of all ages coming together for the cause and celebrating lives of the beautiful and intelligent creatures on Japan Dolphins Day. We made a lot of noise and got a lot of attention from embassy staff, security and importantly the public.

 

For more information-

http://thecovemovie.com/

http://www.seashepherd.org/

http://savejapandolphins.org/

The Whalers Head Home!

March 8 2012

The Japanese Whaling Fleet Leaves the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

Operation Divine Wind is over! The Japanese whalers are going home!

March 8 2012

The Japanese Whaling Fleet Leaves the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

Operation Divine Wind is over! The Japanese whalers are going home!

The Japanese whaling fleet has left the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and they are heading home.  “Once Captain Peter Hammerstedt and his crew on the Bob Barker closed in on the Nisshin Maru on March 5th, the whaling season was effectively over for the season,” said Captain Paul Watson on the Sea Shepherd flagship Steve Irwin recently returned and now berthed in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.

Since March 1st, the Bob Barker has followed the Nisshin Maru as they headed steadily northwestward. The Japanese harpoon vessels have stopped tailing the Bob Barker. The fleet has left the waters of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, according to Captain Peter Hammarstedt. The Japanese government security vessel, Shonan Maru #2, has been spotted by fishing vessels at thirty degrees South, which is due east of Brisbane, Australia indicating that the vessel is well on its way back to Japan.

It has been a long and difficult campaign and although handicapped by the temporary loss of the scout vessel the Brigitte Bardot, the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker were able to chase the Japanese whaling fleet for more than 17,000 miles, giving them little time to kill whales. In addition, two of the three harpoon vessels spent more time tailing the two Sea Shepherd ships than killing whales.

“The kill figures will not be released by Japan until April, but in my opinion they will not get over 50% for certain and my prediction is it will not be above 30%. Not as good as last season, but much better than all the previous years.”  Said Captain Paul Watson. “It has been a successful campaign. There are hundreds of whales swimming free in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary that would now be dead if we had not been down there for the last three months. That makes us very happy indeed."

The Bob Barker will return to Hobart, Tasmania, the Brigitte Bardot is completing repairs in Fremantle, and the Steve Irwin is now berthed in Williamstown.

In December 2012, if the Japanese whaling fleet returns to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will launch Operation Cetacean Justice with four ships, two helicopters, four UAV (drones), and 120 volunteers.

“If the Japanese whalers return, Sea Shepherd will return. We are committed to the defense of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.” Said Captain Paul Watson. “No matter how long it takes, no matter how risky or expensive. The word “sanctuary” actually means something to us and that something is worth fighting for.”

Eureka! The Whaling Fleet Has Been Found and Shut Down!

Captain Paul Watson received a Sat phone call from Captain Peter Hammarstedt, on the Bob Barker, at 2200 Hours (AEST) on March 5th.

“Eureka, Paul, we have the Nisshin Maru in our sights!”

Captain Paul Watson received a Sat phone call from Captain Peter Hammarstedt, on the Bob Barker, at 2200 Hours (AEST) on March 5th.

“Eureka, Paul, we have the Nisshin Maru in our sights!”

The Nisshin Maru and her three deadly harpoon boats were found at 64 Degrees 59 Minutes South and 130 Degrees 51 Minutes East at Commonwealth Bay, sixty miles off the Antarctic Coast, inside the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone.

The Yushin Maru No. 3 had just arrived from tailing the Steve Irwin. Despite the three harpoon vessels deployed to intercept the Bob Barker, Captain Hammarstedt slipped through their web and gained a visual identification on the primary target.

Two of the harpoon vessels were in pursuit of whales. All whaling activity stopped as the Nisshin Maru began running but the Bob Barker is faster and is gaining steadily on the hated factory ship.

“We have her in our sights and she will not be able to outrun us,” said Bob Barker third mate, Vincent Burke, of Melbourne.

“We have kept them running for two months and that has disrupted their operations considerably but now with the Bob Barker on their stern slipway, whaling is effectively shut down for 2012,” said Captain Hammarstedt (27) from Sweden.

The Japanese security ship, Shonan Maru No. 2, is still tailing the Steve Irwin presently one day from the Bass Strait and is now 1600 nautical miles away from the whaling fleet. The Steve Irwin successfully led the Shonan Maru No. 2 and the Yushin Maru No. 3 away from the Bob Barker to allow the Bob Barker to lose a tailing vessel. The key to finding the Nisshin Maru was losing the tailing ship, and it worked.

“This has been a long and tough campaign, with the worst weather and ice conditions that we have experienced in the entire eight seasons we have ventured into the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary,” said Captain Paul Watson. “But despite the temporary loss of our scout ship, the Brigitte Bardot, and our constant dogged pursuit of the Nisshin Maru, we have kept them on the run, taken two of their three harpoon vessels off the hunt for two months, severely crippled their killing capabilities and now once again we have shut them down 100%. Operation Divine Wind has been enormously successful.”