SEA SHEPHERD SHIP STEVE IRWIN ENGAGES JAPANESE FACTORY SHIP NISSHIN
Aboard the M/Y Steve Irwin Southern Oceans —The crew on the Sea
Shepherd ship Steve Irwin engaged in a confrontation with the Japanese
factory ship Nisshin Maru this morning between 0800 and 1000 Hours.
The Nisshin Maru cannot outrun the Steve Irwin. After a 12 hour chase
the Sea Shepherd ship closed the gap and passed alongside the Nisshin
Maru.
The crew deployed over two dozen bottles of rotten butter sending a
stench throughout the whale killing ship that will remain for days.
The crew also threw packets of a slippery chemical onto the deck of
the Nisshin Maru. This will make it very difficult to cut up whales.
The substance becomes even more slippery with water so it will be
difficult to wash it off the decks.
“I guess we can call this non-violent chemical warfare,” said Captain
Paul Watson. “We only use organic, non-toxic materials designed to
harass and obstruct illegal whaling operations.”
Four armed Japanese Coast Guard officers clearly identified in their
uniforms videotaped the confrontation.
The Captain of the Nisshin Maru played a tape over and over again with
a woman’s voice saying “Warning, warning, this is the Nisshin Maru
captain. Stop your destructive actions immediately. If you dare to
board this vessel you will be taken into custody and restrained as
illegal intruders under Japanese law.”
Captain Paul Watson radioed the Nisshin Maru to inform them that they
had no authority in the Australian Antarctic Territory. Captain Watson
ordered the Japanese captain to cease all whaling operations and to
comply with the Australian Federal Court ruling that prohibits the
Japanese whaling fleet from killing whales in the Australian Antarctic
Territorial waters.
The confrontation took place at 63 Degrees 17 Minutes South and 126
Degrees and 20 minutes east. This is 175 miles off the Andare Coast
inside the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone.
The Steve Irwin has fallen half a mile off to the starboard side of
the Nisshin Maru.
“It stinks too bad to remain any closer,” said Todd Emko 32, of New York City.
Not a single whale has been killed since the Sea Shepherd ship Steve
Irwin returned to harass the Japanese whaling fleet in the Australian
Whale Sanctuary.
“They will not be getting their quota this year and that is a
certainty,” said Jeff Hanson 35, from Fremantle, Western Australia.
“In fact I don’t think they will be getting half their quota.”
In total the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has shut down illegal
Japanese whaling operations for over four and a half weeks.
###
About Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an
International non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to
end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the
world?s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and
species. Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to
investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and
confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the
biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd
works to ensure their survival for future generations. Visit
http://www.seashepherd.org for more information.
We are risk-takers. For over 40 years, we have grown from a small organization to a global movement of thousands of passionate volunteers from dozens of nations. What has never changed is our attitude.
We put ourselves on the front lines to expose the truth, save marine wildlife, conduct vital research and stop illegal activity through collaborative campaigns with communities and governments through lawful means and in accordance to international charters and declarations.
