Whale war controversy continues as authorities board Sea Shepherd vessel, seize items

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship the Steve Irwin pulled into port in Tasmania last week and was met by a group of Australian Federal Police officers, who served a search warrant, boarded the vessel and confiscated numerous items.

The items seized include the ship's log book, video footage, audio recordings, photographs, interview transcripts and meeting minutes compiled during recent confrontations between the anti-whaling activists and Japanese whaling vessels in the Antarctic.

Sea Shepherd founder Captain Paul Watson says much of the confiscated material belongs to the Discovery Channel's "Animal Planet" producer and camera crew, who were onboard the Steve Irwin videotaping material for the second season of the television series "Whale Wars."

It is still unclear who filed the official complaint with the Australian police. A written statement issued by the department said the warrant was executed "as a result of a formal referral from the Japanese authorities."

Japan still hunts whales, and the government-backed Institute of Cetacean Research annually targets about 1,000 minke whales using a loophole in the 1986 global whaling moratorium that allows whales to be killed for research purposes.

This year's efforts by the anti-whaling group and the whaling vessels became increasingly confrontational, climaxing with the Steve Irwin colliding with one of the Japanese ships.

And so the saga of good guys versus bad continues. Which side is which seems open to interpretation, judging by comments received from Outposts readers on earlier posts regarding this ongoing drama.

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin collides with the stern of a Japanese harpoon whaling ship in the Antarctic Credit: Sea Shepherd

Comments

[unknown]

After reading al these comments, it disgussed me to see how many of you are ignorant, stupid people! I don't care if Japan has a culture, it can stop. Cultures don't have to be the killings of innocent animals! If all you people think you are so smart, tell me how killing one of God's beautiful creations is right? Call me a hippy, tree hugger, or what ever you want, I will never think its right to kill an innocent whale! Plus, to all you people who think killing a whale is just like killing a chicken or a cow, look it up! A whale takes a lot longer to grow into an adult! We have way faster producing cows then whales!! I don't care what anyone says, it should be illegal to hunt, or do any damage to the whales, and anyone who thinks else, come kiss my @#$!

[unknown]

So why is it like a stupid game to them? They are killing whales and putting it on tv?!? I still don't get how the "research" excuse is a loophole!?! They aren't using them for research! So what if they think its cool, they are just selfish,supid, little #@^%$&*! If anyone can answer my questions, maybe I won't want to kill those idiots AS bad.... By the way, the sea sheperd is pretty cool, they actually LIKE the whales, but I still don't think they should play this war like a game.ITS REAL LIFE!! WAKE UP!!!!!!! Anyway its the other pieces of @#$% I hate.

[charlie karl]

The only thing that marks this planet from the rest is life. It is shameful that money has replaced the values of men. We are certainly a failed race and I have no belief that humans will prosper in the long run however, a few will make a "last stand fight" for a future. I would rather disappear from this world knowing that a pinpoint of light in the midst of our dark nature and absolute foolishness once shined. Sometimes the right thing is very hard to do. Keep fighting the good fight Sea Shepherd's but, remember the world was made to eat upon it's self and sadly we shall.

[Peter J Carter]

YOUR COMMENTS MAKE ME SICK...Get with the program and stop JAPAN FROM DOING ANYTHING THEY WANT ON THE SEA'S. CHECK OUT SOME OF THE FOOTAGE THAT THEY STILL HAVE OF THEM RAMMING HOLES IN THE SHIP. THOSE COWARDS!!!!!JAPAN AND Australia FOR TAKING THE TAPES AND FOOTAGE OF THEM IN ACTION AWAY. SHAME ON YOU............ SHAMEFULL FOR THE HUMAN RACE

[david]

@kurt- you can not compare two contravorial issue that have nothing to do with each other. We dont have the right to kill babies, but women SHOULD and DO have to right of choice. why are you saying that we must sovle one issue then continue into another issue.Human are people who do nothing good in the world. We take everything for granted. We pollute the earth and destory the planet. We need to stop being selfish and save the evoriment for future generations. Whlale and aboration have nothing in common. The japanese are saying the are doing it for research and not foor. Even a 12 year old child can tell they are doing it for foor. IT IS ILLEGAL TO HUNT WHALE FOR COMMERICAL REASONS. Most people argrue that if we can eat beef and chicken for food then why cant we eat whales for food. Its the same logic that we dont eat human for food. Humans are aminals too. If DO SOMETHING THAT YOU BELIEVE IN. YOU SHOULDNT CRITIZE SEAS SHEHERD FOR DOING A POSTIVE ACT FOR THE EVIROMENT AND THIS PLANET. you dont want cows to be kill for food, then you can go humanity needs to stop destroying all of the preious things this world have to offer, so that future generations can enjoy it. Some argures that whaling is a source of income for some people, and they it to survive and feed their family. Humans are very adaptable creature. if Japan ban commerial whaling than all those whalers can find other jobs. COMMERICAL WHALING IS ILLEGAL JUST LIKE SELLING COCINE IS ILLEGAL. DRUG DEALER SELL DRUGS TO MAKE MONEY FOR FOOD AND Sheter but that doesnt justify that it IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. People who commented on the fact that the Sea Shepherd are doing something wrong but the never specify what are the doing wrong.

[PainoMan]

>Imagine - an entire nation of liars.

From the Japanese whaling industry to EVERY SINGLE LIVING PERSON IN JAPAN IS A LIAR.

Wow. Holy racist Batman.

[So if white people do it it's not terrorism?]

Seriously, how have they not been arrested yet? The whole whale wars show is a guilty plead, so why has no one arrested them?! What they are doing is hardly legal and it is NOT non-violent. Ever had a glass bottle thrown in your direction? The Japanese whalers need to start trying to get hit with those things they throw over so they can finally be charged with assault.

If there is a loop-hole in the stupid 1986 law that's not the fault of the Japanese for taking advantage of it! JAPAN IS AN ISLAND COUNTRY WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIVING ON IT! WHERE THE FRICK ELSE ARE THEY GOING TO GET FOOD EXCEPT FROM THE SEA?! A large part of Japan is uninhabitable mountain range, so where is there room to raise land animals for food?! You tell me that! For pete's sake, you have to separate your trash when you throw it out so it can be burned or recycled because the Japanese have no room for land fills!

Those people on that dang sea shepard ship don't even speak Japanese! How do you risk your life to go out and find the Japanese whaling ships without even bringing someone to make sure you can communicate your point? They didn't even have a person on board to translate the letter those two idiots took with them when they TRESPASSED the first time on the whaling ship. THE FOOL BOY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SAY "They are coming aboard to deliver a letter"! Maybe that's why the Japanese haven't stopped killing whales. THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU IF YOU'RE SCREAMING AT THEM IN ENGLISH!!!

[CHUCK2251]

THE JAPANESE USE THE STUDY OF WHALES AS AN EXCUSE TO KILL AND EAT THEM.WHY WOULD ONE HAVE TO KIL A 1000 WHALES FOR RESEARCH? THIS NOTHING NEW,DURING THE 70 S IT WAS THE SAME. The Sea Shepherd team wants to put an end to Japanese whaling, as some whale species are near extinction. DO WE CARE ?BOYCOTT JAPANESE PRODUCTS THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WILL WE? PROBABLY NOT,THE AMERICAN ATTITUDE IS LET JOE DO IT.

[dr. james rutledge coleman jr]

there should be a international push to stop all whaling. until then more support for people like the sea shepherds, get them some acutacal weapons like the japanese.

[BSB]

i hope the austrailian government charges Paul Watson. I believe his actions are those of piracy and are completely illegal.

[Greg Lavallee]

I have been watching this show for sometime now. I understand why the Steve Irwin and crew do what they do and I commend them on their efforts and time that they have donated. I don't think what they are doing is ever going to result in stopping whale killing. This needs to be treated the same way as Moose,Deer,Bear and Birds..and so on. By the governments putting a limit/Cap on how many and what kind of whales are killed each, year well make everyone happy and change the market. in Japan whale is very popular as well as in other countries ...it's no different then us eating beef or chicken! You would have to be blind not to see where this show is going to lead to...Someone is going to get killed!! we are not 3rd world countries so lets start using our heads and fight this the right way. The Steve Irwin crew attack and the Japanese find away to protect them self's and it keeps going on and on and on.

Don't get me wrong I love whales to and I am not trying to say that the Steve Irwin crew are bad, I just think that the outcome is not going to be good and there are others ways to fight this.

p.s it does make one hell of a show!!

[john sherer]

The whale war is stupid . You can't even killing animal in your own country and you go stop others. Please think about how we have the fishin show or hunting deer or allegator... Stupid man Really leave japan alone ..let them deal their own country...

[laurens]

YOU CAN'T NUKE OUR IMAGINATION BRA....

[Kurt]

I am always interested in what people would or will do to save a frog, a small fish, whale, owl etc. Until these groups can feel the same way for an unborn baby don't tell me how it hurts you, or makes you so upset to see one of these animals or fish killed. The most important life is killed each and everyday by the thousands. Lets put all the passion into saving human life. Kurt

[Pepe Beluga]

It had to be the extreme liberal LA Times to post a photo with the deceiving caption.
The Steve Irwing collided NOT with the poacher's Maru when the Maru crossed the SI path!!!
Watch the video!

[Sean]

The crew of the Sea Shepherd is lucky the whalers dont think like me. No exaggeration, I would literally kill those want to be do-gooders......and LOVE it. I truly hope some day they do.

[Kristie]

reading all of the assinine things people have written here have only strengthened my support of sea shepherd. let's face it, when it's posible, we need to preserve species before they end up on the endangered species list. conservation only becomes more difficult and more costly.
whales should not be hunted. the meat is considered a delicacy and is by no means necessary for human life. as in most countries, there are starving people in japan. however, these people are not eating whale meat. i can understand raising chickens, cows, etc. on farms soley for the purpose of human consumption, but whaling is just not necessary for survival.

thanks for the affirmation!

[Kenneth]

The regulations on whale hunting need to be changed. I have no problem with hunting them but there needs to be some kind of bag limit imposed, just like there is in other types of animals... Deer, turkey, etc... While I don't support the eradication of a species, I do support hunting if you use all the parts of the animal killed. Anyone who kills an animal solely for the thrill of it or kills so many of them that the said animal becomes extinct is a despicable person and should be jailed. What the "Whale Wars" crew is doing is vigilantism and vandalism. It's no wonder they were boarded by the authorities.. They may have noble goals, but the way they are going about them is illegal and needs to stop.

[myownpath7]

quite a few of you are some of the most ignorant people I have ever heard. Although I don't truly mean it, at times I wish a tidal wave would wipe both you and the hunters out. Although you preach a different message it all comes from the same book. Who are you to say that they shouldn't eat or hunt whales? I hope your all vegetarians, though, I am sure of it their are some here that are not. What is right to you doesn't have to be right to another. Maybe its best to give you an example. The computer in which you sit in front of is made up of various materials stripped from the earth. Plastics which poison the air and fill landfills, are you complaining? Do you enjoy reading? Well since your all such open minded non biased environmentalists I am sure you will never purchase a book again which happen to be one of the biggest rapists of our Forests. When was the last time you drive your car into Barnes and Noble? The best solution is a balance. Help those who take from the earth without giving back. Let them understand to take in moderation and help the rebirth of life to continue a cycle.

[Violent Terrorists]

Let's see... calculated aforesought violence, and intentional destruction of property, and endangerment of life. And you put it all on a tv program. As evidence for a court of law. Ha, good job hippies. I guess you thought you could get your 15 minutes of fame. Instead you might be getting 15 years in a prison.

The grand majority of conservationists and wildlife supporters think you are doing a disservice to the rest of us. When you endanger human life and intentionally commit crimes, your "justifications" become completely irrelevant.

I say treat them like the Somali Pirates. Seize their tools of destruction. And if they don't surrender willingly. Sink them.

[Anna Winters]

As a 17 year old and being an immigrant from Japan, I see these posts and it upsets me beyond anything else.
"Boycott Japan again"?
"Who eats whales"?
I'm sorry, but obviously there is no respect for other cultures in this country.
You should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking that way. If you are truly adults debating this topic, then you obviously need a crash course in respect and a slap of reality in your face.

The people of Japan have hunted whales for hundreds, thousands of years! What right do you have to condemn that? Tell me, what right do you have? Every Westerner, I have realized, believes that their way is right and all the other must conform to that.
Its what you did to the Native Americans, all the immigrants that came into this country (read your history text book), its what your culture is not enforcing to the rest of the world.
Is it right to destroy other cultures just because it is 'different'?
Is it right to destroy the ways of others?
Is it right to take away something that is part of the country, their history?
Do you have the right to look down upon someone who is different?
What makes your country so special?

Let me list other places that hunts whales as well:
Japan
Norway
Iceland
Greenland
Alaska Inuit
Chukotka, Russia
Some Carribean islands
Canada
Indonesia
Faroe Islands
Philippines
Some has not even joined the IWC and kill over a thousand each year because they are not bound by the articles of the IWC.

Under article VII from the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, Japan must sell whatever is left after the research to the market, which is heavily monitored by the government.
Japan only kills .1% of the population of the whales and if you check, the population of whales have actually risen. Significantly in fact.

The SS uses violent means to get their ways. They throw bottles filled with chemicals at the crew, ram ships.
The UN and IWC disapprove of their violent ways and so should you.
Violence never accomplishes anything. Perhaps you should try googling "record of violence by the Sea Shepherd"
You will be in for a nice, reality check.

What Japan is doing is perfectly legal. Whaling is protected by the the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea. As long as the whaling vessels cooperates with the guidelines of UNCED set in 1992, which they follow, then it is perfectly legal.
Today, whaling is community based and it is run by small families. Whaling is an economic necessity in vulnerable regions. This is actually strongly approved of and recommended.

Being from a small fishing village, it angers me to see the ignorance of the people who post such things.

Respect my culture.

[Penelope]

Confucius, if everybody thought like you any species that did not directly serve mankind would have disapeared a long time ago!

[confucius]

If people have the time to save whales by chasing whaling ships for months, may I suggest they spend that time to help other human beings instead of whales? Please get your priorities straight.

And I believe that Japanese, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and any other countries who want to hunt whales should be able to do so but not to the point of extinction.

[Penelope]

The Australian government have bowed down to the Japanese who do not want the world to see their bloody slaughter of these magnificent endangered mammals. The people of Australia, on the other hand, are against this illegal slaughter and once again Paul Watson will use this situation to the advantage of whales! Good luck to this authentic eco warrior!

[Whales Not Television Ratings!]

I think the convo on SS is getting side tracked. I doubt there will be formal charges...just yet. When the charges do come they will be for conspiracy to commit fraud among other charges. There will probably be some questions into the finances of Sea Shepherd as well.

Here's what they (Federal Police) are most likely looking for:

1. Any evidence that the Discovery Channel-Animal Planet crew were directing this operation or elements of this operation or "collusion". As a media guy let me say this is very likely to have been the case. If they (SS) were unfortunate enough to leave raw production notes laying around with uncensored video - god help them.

2. Evidence of vessel "ramming discussions" with Paul Watson and the film crew prior to the events that transpired last year and this year.

3. Evidence of last years "faked gun shot" and the circumstances around that incident.

4. Any financial remuneration for this television show or the finances surrounding this show.

This is the Achilles Heel for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The reality television show Whale Wars that had little to do with reality and more to do with ratings and Wagging the Conservation Dog.

Images and video of whales being killed are nothing new in this 31 year old eco game. Greenpeace shot this graphic video in 2007 at the same site, so Watson's claim that they (Japan) want the tapes because these images embarrass them is a classic Sea Shepherd smoke screen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmjNaf6ddF0

Sea Shepherd has had 31 years to effect any changes to whaling at this site and have failed each and every year. Now the question is - how profitable is Wagging the Conservation Dog and how much of it has been going on in the name of saving whales?

The seized videos and production notes will tell the tale of what really has been happening for the past two seasons. If there is no collusion between the reality film crew and Sea Shepherd then Australia will have egg on it's face. That could also happen, but only if they (SS) were pretty slick and stripped away or hid any real evidence.

The smart money says the Federal Police would not have taken this extraordinary step unless they were 99% sure of wrong doing. The blow back for this politically charged move will come at a supreme cost if this was truly an Australian lead Snipe Hunt.

Time will tell.