Japan to toughen security for Antarctic whaling fleet

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/04/japan-whaling-idUSL3E7L41IU20111004

TOKYO | Tue Oct 4, 2011 7:38am EDT

TOKYO Oct 4 (Reuters) - Japan will toughen security around its whaling fleet in the Antarctic Ocean this winter, Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano said on Tuesday, in response to anti-whaling protests at sea.

Last season, Japan cut short its annual whale hunt in the Antarctic after it was obstructed on the water by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. snip

Australia immediately condemned Japan's decision to continue whaling, especially as the hunt will take place in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary established by the International Whaling Commission, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said in a statement.

[Playinghardball]

1. Fuck Japan

[tularetom]

2. OMG! Another Chris Creosote post

[The Traveler]

3. They will be violating

treaties regarding shipping in the Southern Ocean. As I understand it, ships operating in the Antarctic Treaty area are a) restricted on fuel types and b) must be double hulled to minimize fuel spill potential and ice resistance. The whaling fleet is not double hulled, nor have their vessels been fitted to burn the mandated lighter fuel grades. (Note that SSCS has the same compliance problem.) These regulations have long been scheduled, and took effect in July 2011.

The Japanese claim in this article they must do lethal research to determine if whales are affecting their fishing industry. I find this hilarious given the destructive impact the fishing industry (Japan's is not alone in this regard) and its "scour the seas" methods has had on world wide fish stocks. However, if the natural feeding of whales is having an impact on fishing industry profits, I would take that as evidence of an ecosystem pushed to the brink. Don't blame the whales for that one.

[ixion]

5. Japan is what affected their fishing industry.

It's sad that they won't admit the truth.

[The Traveler]

6. Exactly

And if the oceans die, my friend, we are indeed worm food. Ocean environments contribute the lion's share of breathing O2 ... and with deforestation, we have already seriously diminished the contribution of land based O2 production. At some point, we have to stop treating the ocean as both an inexhaustible food source and our toilet bowel. When you think about it, maintaining both these policies exercises insanity of hilarious and tragic proportions.

Trav

[ixion]

4. Japan needs to get a clue, and quick.

They've already fished out their own oceans, and turned their island into a no-go radioactive zone. You have to wonder what it's going to take to wake them up.