SEA SHEPHERD
INTENDS TO RAM AND DISABLE PIRATE WHALERS
SOUTHERN OCEAN, January 9, 2006 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- Sea
Shepherd Conservation Society believes it is time to escalate the
confrontation with the Japanese whaling fleet and bring an end to
the illegal and ruthless slaughter of defenseless whales in the
Antarctic Whale Sanctuary.
“What part of the word ‘sanctuary’ do the whalers not
understand?” said Captain Paul Watson from onboard the Sea
Shepherd ship Farley Mowat. “The whalers have assaulted whale
defenders with water cannons and wooden poles. The whalers have
rammed two Greenpeace ships and attempted to ram the Farley Mowat.
With every attack the whalers plead innocence. The whalers are far
from innocent. They are criminals involved in a criminal operation
and they must be stopped.”
“I am tired of politicians being apologists for these criminals,”
said Captain Watson. “We sideswiped the whaling supply ship
Oriental Bluebird yesterday and we intend to disable any pirate
whaling vessel we find. We intend to uphold the laws protecting
whales. This nonsense must be ended.”
At 0030 Hours GMT on Jan. 9, 2006, Captain Paul Watson ordered the
Japanese-owned Panamanian ship Oriental Bluebird to leave the
Antarctic Whale Sanctuary. The Japanese supply ship was waiting to
rendezvous with the Nisshin Maru to continue the off-loading of
whale meat for transport back to Japan. When they refused, Sea
Shepherd backed up the message by slamming the starboard hull of
their conservation ship, Farley Mowat, against the starboard hull
of the Oriental Bluebird.
Three times the Sea Shepherd crew has caught up with the whalers
and each time the whalers have stopped whaling and have fled to
avoid a confrontation with the Sea Shepherd crew. “They are
afraid of us and we want them to be afraid of us.” said Farley
Mowat 1st Officer Alex Cornelissen. “We want them to keep
running. Once again we have stopped their whaling activities.”
Japan has threatened to send the airborne police to defend its
whaling fleet. “What do they intend to do?” asked Captain
Watson. “Take pictures or strafe us, parachute onto our decks
and arrest us? I hate to quote George W. Bush but hey, ‘bring
‘em on.’”
New Zealand is threatening to send Orion aircraft to observe the
situation. Australia is being asked to intervene militarily.
“We’ve got quite a situation down here.” said Laura Dakin,
23, chief cook on the Farley Mowat and a resident of Canberra,
Australia. “Some politicians are expressing concern that things
are getting seriously dangerous down here. The fact is that, for
the whales, the situation is beyond dangerous – it’s deadly.”
For pictures and more information, please visit: http://media-antarctica.seashepherd2.org/
About Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Established in 1977,
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an International
non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to defend,
conserve, and protect the world's marine wildlife and ecosystems.
Their website, www.seashepherd.org,
documents SSCS research, direct action, public education and
outreach programs, and illustrates how SSCS has continuously
worked for decades to eradicate pirate whaling, poaching, shark
finning, sealing, unlawful habitat destruction, and other
violations of established laws intended to protect the world's
oceans.
Captain Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd's founder and President, also
co-founder of Greenpeace Foundation, is a Director of Sierra Club
USA, and is a renowned, respected leader in environmental issues.
For more information, pictures, or to interview Captain Watson:
CONTACT:
Heather Callin
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Phone: +1-360-370-5650
Website: www.seashepherd.org
Email: media@seashepherd.org