Activists cut Japan's whaling catch in half

[Barrett808]

Source: AFP

JAPAN'S whaling fleet is set to return to port today after killing little more than half its intended catch in the Antarctic because of harassment by activists.

The 8000-tonne Nisshin Maru mother ship is scheduled to dock in Tokyo today, ending a five-month voyage, while the five other fleet vessels will dock at various ports in the capital and in western Japan.

Japan, which says whaling is part of its culture, had aimed to kill 850 minke whales and 50 fin whales on its annual hunt.

It dropped an original plan to kill up to 50 humpbacks after coming under international pressure.

Fishery agency official Shigeki Takaya said the total catch for the year came to 551 minke whales and no fin whales, "as a series of offshore protests prevented the fleet from achieving its initial goal".

Agriculture vice-minister Toshiro Shirasu said: "It is truly regrettable that we could not carry out the project as planned".

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, whose militant protest ship was involved in a series of high-seas clashes with the Japanese fleet, has said its campaign saved 500 whales.

Japan regrets not meeting whale hunt target
By North Asia correspondent Shane McLeod and wires

Japan says it is "regrettable" that its whaling fleet had killed little more than half its intended catch during this year's hunt, due to harassment by activists.

But environmental group Greenpeace is not satisfied with the figures.

...

"It is truly regrettable that we could not carry out the project as planned," said Toshiro Shirasu, vice minister at the agriculture ministry.

He says the Japanese Government will continue to catch the giant mammals for research.

Greenpeace, which along with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society carried out protests to obstruct the hunt, said it was not satisfied with the reduced catch.

"They say that one reason for the lower catch is that they didn't see so many whales," said Junichi Sato of Greenpeace Japan.

"That is a good reason why they should not conduct lethal research."

(more)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/15/2216843.htm?section=world

'Interference' saves 434 whales from the harpoon
Andrew Darby in Hobart
April 15, 2008

JAPAN'S whalers blamed "relentless interference" from environmentalists and Australia's official surveillance as they detailed the poor results of their Antarctic hunt.

On the eve of the fleet's return to Tokyo today, the whalers confirmed that out of a maximum quota of 935 minke whales they killed 551, and of 50 giant fin whales they took none at all.

The whalers said they lost 31 days in the Antarctic to the harassment of Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd and were "constrained" by 22 days of surveillance by the Australian patrol ship Oceanic Viking.

Nevertheless the fleet's "scientific research" took it deep into the waters of the Australian Antarctic whale sanctuary, a statement by the Institute of Cetacean Research shows.

The fleet dropped plans to take humpback whales after protests led by Australia last December. Their failure to take any endangered fin whales was blamed on the relatively fewer sightings of this species compared to last year.

(more)

http://www.smh.com.au/news/whale-watch/interference-saves-434-whales-from-harpoon/2008/04/14/1208025090972.html

Read more: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23541040-30417,00.html

[InvisibleTouch]

1. Go Sea Shepherd!

I love those guys. That's the true definition of a hero, someone who actually puts themselves out there in harm's way to make a difference.

Now they're in the opposite hemisphere working against the horrific seal hunt. They can use any and all support:

http://www.seashepherd.org/

[flvegan]

2. Heh heh...lost money again this year, Japan?

Pity.

[xchrom]

3. recommend! -- now to cut it out entirely.

[Shoelace]

4. good news that they didn't get all they went for

and better news that Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd stood tall against them.
"Scientific research"? Ha! That is just a ruse to get around international laws of the sea. Anybody know what they really do with the whales? I don't.
I've been so busy trying to keep up with news about the seal slaughter, I'd have missed this news.

I thank you Barret808! As per usual, you are a great source of news about these matters.

Also, for live reports from the seal slaughter, go here:

http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/marine_mammals_news/live_from_ice_032408.html

There's a good bit of news there too as they said that fully 2/3rds of the seal boats didn't go out there this year for the "hunt" due to low prices for seal pelts. We are making progress thanks to Sea Shepherd, HSUS, IWAF, and Greenpeace.

[mikelgb]

6. they feed the whales to the school children... im not kidding:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23289975-661,00.html

[Shoelace]

7. wow, who knew?

thanks for that timely response, I'd have never guessed it. So if they aren't doing scientific research and using whale meat as a food source, then aren't they breaking the law of the sea by fishing an endangered species for profit or food? I think Greenpeace could go with that little factoid and thrash them roundly. At least they are considering a ban on whale hunting.
This might be the year when much of these barbaric practices by Japan (and Canada with their seal slaughters) will end entirely.

[LeftyMom]

9. They also make the meat into dog food.

They have more on ice then they have a market for, so they have to find ways to unload it before it spoils.

[AndyTiedye]

5. Yay!! Sea Shepherd!

:yourock:

[Barrett808]

8. BBC: Turning tide of whaling opinion

Turning tide of whaling opinion
By Chris Hogg
BBC News, Tokyo

Who has "won" the battle between the Japanese whalers and the environmentalists who set out to disrupt their hunt?

On hearing the news that Japan only managed to catch 60% of its quota of whales this season, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the organisation whose members clashed most violently with the Japanese whaling fleet, said it had "saved" hundreds of whales.

But Greenpeace, the other conservation group who tailed the Japanese fleet through the waters of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, pointed out that 551 whales were still caught this year - still considerably more than the 440 caught three years ago

Japan's quotas have been far greater in the past couple of years than they used to be.

Clearly, though, this year has still seen many setbacks for Japanese whalers.

Officials originally said they were targeting 850 minke whales, 50 fin whales and 50 humpbacks.

Within weeks Tokyo changed its mind about the humpbacks - which had been protected by international agreements for decades - in what Japan described as a gesture to try to pacify its opponents

...

The Japanese seemed unwilling to be filmed or photographed whaling, and so just tailing them closely was enough to disrupt operations for days at a time.

Now Japan says "sabotage" by activists "was a major factor behind our failure to achieve our target".

But a fisheries agency official made clear it was not the only factor. He said few fin whales were spotted, another reason why none of them were caught.

But nevertheless, for the first time in 20 years protesters are being blamed for Japan's failure to meet its quota.

(more)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7346656.stm

[Shoelace]

10. Sea Shepherd: Globe & Mail has a poll, please vote!!

that would be the Canadian Globe and Mail wherein hundreds of sealers are on there voting like crazy, saying it was right for the Farley Mowat to be confiscated. PLEASE VOTE! Sea Sherpherd's website has a direct link to Globe and Mail. Let's let our voices be heard. So far, over 70% say "yes" and 20+ said "no" - I of course voted "no"!

Also, apparently part of the Mowat crew are on a hunger strike in support of the Captain of the ship. Thanks ahead folks - DU knows now to get the vote out and make a difference. Let's fracking end this seal hunt forever!!!!! :grouphug:

http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_080414_1.html

[Barrett808]

11. Done. Currently 72% support seizing the Farley

Was the RCMP right to seize the anti-sealing vessel Farley Mowat?

Yes: 72% (8127 votes)
No: 28% (3190 votes)

[InvisibleTouch]

12. Voted.

Still only about 1/3 voting "No." That web site must advertise to a very narrow market, because worldwide the sentiment is decidedly in favor of the seals and their protectors.

[Shoelace]

14. they stuffed the vote (sound familiar?) - you can vote more than once

so I found out as I just voted "no" again just to see if it could be done. I deleted my cookies and voila! I suspect that's what they are doing in their spare time since about 2/3rds of the sealers haven't gone out this year for lack of good pelt prices, high fuel prices, etc. The Globe and Mail is getting most of it's feedback in the form of many, many comments about the Sea Shepherd affair and they are mostly all from Newfoundland or Nova Scotia, Labrador, etc.
Pretty close knit group I'd suppose and out to vent their anger at what they know is coming down. An end to the seal hunt, once and for all.

I do hope they turn to eco-tourism so they can turn their lives around and get a bit of perspective on the outside world to which they are apparently oblivious. Mostly I hope to not go through another year of knowing that these creatures are being barbarically slaughtered for fur coats for rich bitches!

[Barrett808]

15. Poll closed -- 80% Yes to Farley seizure

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/poll/pollResultHub?id=84395&pollid=84395&save=_save&show_vote_always=no&poll=GAMFront&hub=Front&subhub=VoteResult

"close knit group" indeed!

[Shoelace]

16. what a crock! I voted no at least 20 times

just to see what and how it would pan out. Turns out, everytime I would vote no, about 20 to 30 more yes votes appeared magically according to the number count on the results of the poll. Either the sealers and their friends were busy boys last night or the Globe and Mail folks shilled for them.
That is the problem with internet polls, most of them don't really reflect the true feelings of the people since it's so easy to play with them.

No small wonder that Canadians are turning conservative if the Globe and Mail is widely read. It's the Canadian version of Faux News!

[143tbone]

13. Voted n/t