Sea Shepherd crew engages in water cannon battle with Japanese whaling fleet vessel

The latest update from Paul Watson, captain of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society flagship vessel Steve Irwin, was posted on the group's website today.

Watson tells of continued run-ins with the Shonan Maru 2, a Japanese whaling fleet ship that has been tailing the Steve Irwin since it left port en route to Antarctic waters to try to disrupt the annual whale hunt.

"The Japanese vessel moved in with water cannons  blazing. As they came closer, they turned on their LRAD's [Long Range Acoustical Device] and surprisingly they began to broadcast the following message over their loudspeaker: 'Steve Irwin, cease your aggressive action. Stop your aggressive action. We have the authority to repel you,' " reports Watson.

Watson contends that it is ridiculous to accuse the Steve Irwin of attacking the Shonan Maru 2, because the Japanese vessel is much faster and the crew of the Steve Irwin has been trying to get the vessel off their trail for 11 days.

The post continued, "The Shonan Maru 2 set off the collision alert system 14 times as it chased and circled the Steve Irwin.

"The crew of the Steve Irwin managed to deploy a stern protection line. The Shonan Maru 2 ran over the 100-meter long line and snapped it and then backed off. Water cannons from both ships made the crew on both ships very wet but there were no direct hits causing any injuries.

"After nearly two hours of harassment, the Shonan Maru 2 backed off. There was no visible indication that the vessel suffered prop damage."

A film crew from Animal Planet is onboard the Steve Irwin, and it sounds as if they will have a lot of interesting footage for the third season of the popular "Whale Wars" series.

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: The Japanese harpoon vessel Shonan Maru 2 shoots water cannons at the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin (not pictured). Credit: Barbara Veiga / Sea Shepherd Conservation Society/AFP/Getty Images 

Comments

[Kimitake Hiraoka]

You Americans make a lot of noise about terrorists and spend a lot of money looking for them.

Well I've a little hint.

There's a big fat one living in your own country. His name: Paul Watson.

I think some sodium pentathol should rectify the problem.

[Erik]

Amazing how, when confronted with fact, that the supporters of terrorist such as watson start with the ad hominem attacks. Arming themselves with the well debunked data from the SS website, lies from their cultist leader, and just plain antagonism towards ANYBODY that defies them or doubts their word.
It still stands as FACT
1.whaling, as done by Japan, Iceland, Norway, USA, Faroes, Russia
IS LEGAL
2.australia can claim a whale sanctuary all it wants in INTERNATIONAL WATERS, but the only ones bound by it are australian whalers.
3. IWC moderates and controls the other sanctuary, and it has provisions in place that allow japan to whale there.
4.The whaling moratorium is NON binding... it doesnt apply to NON IWC MEMBERS, Members that object or file protests on the action.
5.Minke whales are NOT endangered. NOT threatened. They are listed as LEAST CONCERN

If you dont like the current laws and regulations, of course, by all means, go out and be your own practicing terrorist, attack those LAWFULLY doing business, join up with watson. Just keep in mind, one day, he, or you, will run up against a person that is willing to stomp all over your rose colored utopian dream and show you the harsh realities of life. The idiots in the gil did just that..they escaped alive. Next week it might be a maniac in a truck protesting about your SUV..or how much fertilizer you used on your lawn. How much whining will you do then when they throw a caustic, poisonous acid on your walls< ram and try to force your vehicle off the road...or try blinding you with lasers.

[I'm Hideyoshi the loser]

Hideyoshi Toyotomi,

At it again? posting ususal trash? and getting personal now?

You are a tough poster, with your big words.

We have had enough of your nonsense. Have not heard one piece of useful information from you. If anyone is spouting nonsense it is you my friend. How backward and awkward are you?

[gutless japan]

“With well over 9,000 minke whales killed in 22 years and no useful data produced, Japan’s so-called ‘research’ in the Antarctic is an

international embarrassment.”

Got you on that one Japan.

Now, let’s hope that captain and crew get arrested for ramming the Ady Gil. Leaving the scene of a maritime accident which they caused.

Lets hope another fire happens on the Nisshin Maru 2 years ago. They left a man behind last year (made no effort to find him).

How many millions are they spending on this expedition this year? All beefed up for research? Yah right, they are ready for a fight. Naval

vessels in disguise?

[jess sucks anaking]

That's fine u keep picking on Paul Watson - calling him a liar, a terrorist etc etc.

Good on you. Do we care, Does he care? No.

He's doing important work down there. Work that the govt of NZ/Aust should be doing. But they arent because they are cowards - and scared of upsetting almight Japan. The once almighty Japan that attacked and raped most of the Pacific region some 60 years ago. Sure feels like they are acting the part again down there doesnt it? Where is green peace in all of this? I see them on the streets campaigning - but for what exactly?

Carrying on with their "fleet of research vessels" carrying weapons no doubt. Sure looks like they wouldn't care if they cause injuries or deaths.

[Enola Gay]

This whole thing is nuts.

THe IWC allows scientific whaling (which we know is all BS) and Japan exploits and absuses that (no one can argue against that.) So the IWC needs some reform too.

Now, the fact Japan spends so much money on a dead industry in which there is no demand for whale meat is beyong me. Especially since theres so much what meat in the deep freeze. (Reports of it being peddled to schools, nursing homes and dog food have surfaced). This is an absolute national disgrace.

Not to mention their tactics and environmental crimes (factory ship, refuelling, dumping of waste etc) in and around Anatartica.

The the ICR / PR machine keeps repeating the same things..."Research","Cultural Tradition","Same as killing cows","Depleting fish stocks","Minke's inhibit recovery of larger whales"... Truly a propaganda machine hard at work.

Im sure their citizens woudl agree - theres more important domestic issues that could do with those funds? Suicide rates, uemployment problems etc etc.

---

Japanese whalers are operating illegally by targeting endangered and protected whales in an established international whale sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on commercial whaling, in violation of the Antarctic Treaty and in contempt of an Australian Federal Court order.

[Kornelius Kohlbauer]

Wait. Watson tells of continued run-ins with the Shonan Maru 2? Should be the other way around. The Japanese fleet has been trying to avoid these extremists. Watson and his crew went looking for the whalers.

And I don't care how you try to explain it--the collision was clearly the fault of the Ady Gil. It is a speed boat! Learn how to use one from the Somali pirates. Instead they had to learn the hard way that it is not the sort of boat to use when playing chicken with a whaling boat.

[Randy Dean]

Looks like it is time to bring out the military to monitor the anti-whaling activities. If someone shot a laser that would blind me, I would shoot back with a bullet.

If you do not like the whaling agreement, fix it at the table not on the ocean. These people are asking to die. Time to give them their wish.

[Scott]

Heather,

Regardless of that the Ady Gil can outrun the Shonan Maru 2, the world accepted international "Collision Prevention 1972" states for ships on the open ocean that a boat coming from starboard has priority and that a ship may never change its course to a collision course. In this case, not only does the Shonan Maru steer into a collision course with the Ady Gil, it approaches from the port side with a hard turn to starboard while going full speed against all sailing laws (and there has not been an update to the 1972 document concerning these laws).

Not only that, but Japanese officials have stated that the Shonan Maru 2 turned to PORT to avoid a collision with the Ady Gil. It is clear in the video taken from the Bob Barker that the Shonan Maru 2 makes a turn to starboard while not on a collision course then only steers to port once a collision is inevitable. And though the Ady Gil looks like it accelerates forward in the last two or three seconds before collision on the video taken from the Shonan Maru 2 (I will not claim wether they did or did not), there does not seem to be a way that the Ady Gil could have avoided that collision.

[Heather]

I think this is crap. That small boat is a speed boat and in no way is slower then the larger ship. There is no way that boat could not out run the larger one if it wanted too.

They obviously intended to interfer with the whaling ship. If there actions are not legal then they got what they deserved.

[Steve T]

We need to send the Navy to go after these Japanese ships, they are already breaking the law by whaling for meat under the auspices of "science". They need to be stopped.

[Dave Head]

Japan's continued and expanded program of scientific whaling is inconsistent with its obligations under the Law of the Sea Convention, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling Convention, the Convention on the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), and the Convention on Biological Diversity to protect and preserve the marine environment, to protect rare and fragile ecosystems and endangered species, to prepare environmental impact assessments when changes to the marine
environment are likely to be caused by its activities, and to refrain from claiming resources under the guise of marine scientific research. This program is not legitimately "scientific" because it has not been
peer-reviewed and does not have precise quantifiable goals. It is inconsistent with Japan's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity because reduces the sustainability of whale species and has "adverse impacts on biological diversity." It is unquestionably an abuse of
right because it invokes Article VIII of the Whaling Convention in a manner that certainly was unanticipated by the framers of the Convention and has been repeatedly condemned by the majority of the other contracting parties
to the Convention.
Japan's actions can be challenged by concerned states in the International Court of Justice or through the dispute resolution procedures of the Law of the Sea
Convention and the conciliation procedures of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

It's just that no Government has the balls to take legal action against Japan. In the meantime SSCS tries to enforce the law against the illegal japanese whaling. Some of your comments are pathetic and moronic

[Ian Edmondstone]

Whaling is governed by the international whaling commission. The Japanese have for several years now hunted whales on the pretence of research, that is removing the inner ears to determine the age of the whale. This isnt illegal, rather it is exploiting a loop hole. What is illegal is that the Japanese are hunting whales in the Antarctic Whale sanctuary, which is Australian international waters and governed by the laws of Australia, which prohibits the hunting of whales. The question of legality is whether the waters claimed by Australia are in fact internationally recognised as Australian waters.

It is very easy to criticise Paul Watson, and whether they are effectively protecting whales against a foe that is heavily financed or not is not really the issue. They are effectively gaining press coverage against whaling, and last year successful limited the "research" to only a fraction of the intended cull.

For me, as an Australian, I deplore the hunting of whales. The Australian government is not willing to stand up to the Japanese, being a major trading partner, and turn a blind eye to the killing of whales. I personally think there is no need to hunt humpbacks to make a few fat laden burgers.

Paul Watson is trying to protect the whales and if only one whale is saved then his mission and the donations are a success.

[Condor]

The Sea Shepherd finally revealed the type of laser they’re using attempting to blind the Japanese fishermen on the bidge of their ships. It’s called a “Photonic Disruptor” and is classified as a TALI (Threat Assessment Laser Illuminator) and is designed specifically for military and law enforcement use.

The Photonic Disruptor™ is trade mark of only one TALI laser that is 100mv. This laser will blind someone at 2000 meters. The 100mw laser can pop balloons from 12 ft and can also light matches 9 ft away in 1-3 seconds with no problem.

Australia has already banned the importing of the devices and classified any with an output above 1mW as a weapon.
The amendment to the Regulations affects hand-held articles,
commonly known as laser pointers, designed or adapted to emit
a laser beam with an accessible emission level of greater than 1 milliwatt (mW)."

"Written authorisation from the police - B709B Form
To obtain ‘permission to import’ you must first seek written
authorisation to possess the goods within the relevant state or territory from the police firearms registry. This written authorisation must be in the form of a B709B Form – Importation of Weapons – Police Authorisation."

[peter fitzgerald]

Either you are on the side of life, or you are siding with the most rapacious nation in the world.

[timmy]

Andre,

Paul Watson is a big liar. And if you are looking for people with fat butts, look no further than him. Watson is a guy who complains so much about "too many humans on the planet", but look at him. He is a big blob who obviously consumes more than his fair share of resources. And he contributes to way more carbon emissions than most people, the way he flies around the place in airplanes to get to all his propaganda events.

How can you respect a guy like this, that is such a huge hypocrite?
I can't even listen to him seriously until he stops eating too much food. Environmentalists should not be so grossly overweight, they should be trim to ensure they are not unnecessarily consuming food that they don't need to live.

AnaKinG,

Agree totally. Sea Shepherd through their leader Paul Watson lie about Japanese whaling being illegal (if it were, they'd have been taken to court years ago already), he lies about being shot, he lies about pretty much everything. The only thing he has going for his group is that there are gullible people like Andre out there who would waste their money supporting his deranged, hypocritical lifestyle.

[Penelope]

The Japanese are illegally killing whales and only Sea shepherd are trying to do something about it. Greenpeace is doing nothing accept spin a few stories to make themselves look good. As for those here who seem to be on the side of the Japanese poachers, it is easy to see you have no knowledge of the reality of whaling and the cruelty it involves. Couch potatoes all! The only terrorism here is the terror the whalers inflict on these gentle giant intelligent sea mammals.

[AnaKinG]

What do you mean "Do Something"? Join in on the terroristic act? that would be even more counter productive than sitting on our "fat buttocks".

I say this time to time, but really Sea Shepherd members should just be honest and admit that they use violence to enforce their faith over others. Stop playing game, and be real about what you are. You'll get more respect. If you keep saying "oh we are pacifist, and we don't condone voilence" all while you throw chemical bottles at people you hate, majority of the world will only treat you as self-righteous terrorist. But of course, you only care about those who agree with you.

Peace

[Andre]

Look at all the anti-SSCS whiners out there. It must be pretty bold to sit behind your computer and spout all that tough language. When will you people get off your fat butts and do something productive? Oh wait... Its easier to whine then it is to do something.

[Steve]

Hey Steve Irwin...HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE PREY???? Your day of reckoning is HERE!!!!

[geyr von schweppenburg]

many people gave money to sea shepherd to stop whale killing but sea shepherd isn't stopping the whaling at all. they should refund the donations

[environment first]

Due to the efforts of the SSCS the sealing industry is on it death bed. Please read the follow commentary from the sealing industry itself.

"We are presently witnessing the death of the sealing industry in Norway, and I for one am overjoyed at the news that I received today that two of the three remaining Norwegian sealing vessels are for sale. (Paul)

According to a report by Norwegian TV2 this spells the end for Norwegian seal hunting.

The 45 employees of the sealing ships the White Bear and the White Kid have had their jobs terminated.

A historic time for the sealing industry is over, according to Signe Korneliussen, the operations manager of the White Bear.

“With two of the three sealing vessels now being offered for sale, this means in reality a winding up of the Norwegian seal hunting, " said sealing ship owner Jens Petter Kraknes. "

You may hate Paul and call him name, however through 30 years of effort he has broken the back of the DFO and the Canadian Parliament and they are a mad as hell and can not do anything about it.

Great job Paul. Now for you Whiners, sit back and blog away as Paul puts the death nail into the Whaling Industry. Complain all you like, you are powerless to stop him.

More power to Paul Watson.

[Ernst Rohm]

looks like paul watson is getting a taste of his own medicine.

[Hideyoshi Toyotomi]

I love how irrelevant Sea Shepherd are now. Look at them spluttering around down there, belching out carbon emissions in the name of publicity and donations.

Utterly useless.

Their eco-terror TV show is going to be a bit dreary this season. Going to have to pull some pretty illegal stunts to spice it up! Maybe some more faux shootings? haha how pathetic.

To all those eco-terror financiers who give money to these imbeciles - look at how your money is being spent, circling around icebergs, whinging and whining. Well done. Money well spent.

You fail, Paul Watson. Time to get a real job, fat man.

[Jess]

Just harpoon Watson and get it over with already! That'll be enough whale meat to last the Japanese for years to come..