Fugitive Watson back on Sea Shepherd ship

Takaaki Sakamoto, an official at Japans fisheries agency, said: 'We will discuss with relevant ministries how Japan will react to Watson being on board. We will also discuss how best to use up the 2.3bn yen of tsunami reconstruction money given to our lethal research whaling programme while the people of Tohoku continue live in prefab metal boxes for yet another cold winter."

Its funny how South Korea can manage to conduct scientific research without killing whales yet Japan cannot. I guess its easy to see which is the more civilised, advanced country trying to be a positive member of the international community and who is just a belligerent, juvenile, rogue state..........

As I read about Paul Watson, I begin to see flashes of WikiLeaks Julian Assange, and wonder if Julian is subconsciously emulating Watson, seeing himself standing on the same kind of supra-legal ground? How will the world see Watson in future years, I wonder? Like Robin Hood, with his rough edges forgotten?

Give them hell SS! I long for the day to see the Nishin Maru turned into an artificial reef!

welcome back Watson, voice from whales !

...although the meat is later sold openly in shops and restaurants.

As required by the IWC. Kind of a key detail don't ya think?

Long ago, in July, South Korea said they would not do the "research whaling". http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/07/17/south-korea-scraps-research-whaling-plans-after-outcry/

I suppose it is manipulation of western media by Greenpeace to create story.

Also, it seems South Korea may have had idea to do "research" whaling to avoid "moratorium". See Huffington Post story:

"The government said last week that it would allow the killing of whales for research because fishermen were complaining that whales were eating large amounts of fish." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/11/south-korea-whaling-research_n_1664158.html

I don't know if such claim is true, but of course a nation should not allow research whaling without doing research.

However, it is clear that "moratorium" is unpopular and unreasonable to South Korea as well as Japan.

Surprised at the level of support for this moron. He's a criminal.

Arrest him! Fugitive and criminal!!

He is still a fugitive and should be arrested

USNinJapan2, Yes it is a very key detail. Western media often has biased reports against proper research whaling under IWC rules. I believe ICJ case between Australia and Japan over this issue will be won by Japan. This will be shocking news to western media and their people. Maybe then such biased reports will finally be corrected.

Sometimes I wish Japan would just abandon their whaling campaign just so this merry group would actually have to go out and find a real job...

It must really irritate these pro whaling crowds. The Japanese whalers rely on massive handouts to sustain their disgusting trade. Yet SS can survive on donations from the public and not even just survive but thrive. Great to see the amount of equipment they will employ this year. Lets just hope they make the Japanese whalers lives a living hell and yes a new reef going by the name Nisshin Maru would be nice......

Australian Law Enforcement has duty to arrest him if he was in Australian territory's land or sea. If we are letting grow Whales population freely and then fishes stock for human and other species will be dropping dramatically. Also Whales' meat can store for decade without changing small or taste. Whales meat is useful as emergency foods supply for country with limited resource like Japan. South Korea action is just stunt but for sure their fishermen will catch Whales when they found Whales in their sea and sell at black market. World growing populations need foods from all available sources.

Kobuta Chan,

Thats fine, you want to whale do it in your own waters.......

Simple as that, dont sail thousands of kilometers and do it where you are not welcome

So the blowhard is back. Regardless of what your view on whaling may be, Watson, along with his organization, is undeniably a hazard to safe and unmolested maritime navigation, to which every ship of any nation is entitled. The Netherlands should be ashamed of itself for permitting vessels, like the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker that are used to knowingly conduct criminal activity on the high seas, to be registered under its flag.

USNinJapan2

Regardless of what your view on whaling may be, Watson, along with his organization, is undeniably a hazard to safe and unmolested maritime navigation, to which every ship of any nation is entitled. The Netherlands should be ashamed of itself for permitting vessels, like the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker that are used to knowingly conduct criminal activity on the high seas, to be registered under its flag.

Kinda funny comment given that the Japanese are just as reckless if not more. Not to mention they do not mind ignoring other nations sovereign waters and violate those areas. You would really think that the JCG manned vessels would no better but hey there is only one side to the story and that is big bad SS picking on the poor Japanese whalers going about their traditional business. True....

“A trifle inconvenient without a passport or any form of identification and all the more difficult without credit cards or access to ATM machines, without access to the Internet or even a cell phone.”

Wait, isn't that a crime??

I hope that Watson is in handcuffs by the end of this years hunt. I don't care how "good" the cause is, you can't just declare yourself above the law.

Kobuta Chan - Australian Law Enforcement has duty to arrest him if he was in Australian territory's land or sea.

Are you sure about this? You will find that, it is only the federal police that can detain him and only after his identity and whereabouts have been confirmed. And, I can tell you for a fact, very few Aussies would turn him in and stop him doing the job that no government has the guts to do.

S Korea formally dumps ‘scientific’ whaling plan

If Korea can, then why can't Japan? Too many irrational whaling supporters willing to waste hundreds of millions of tax-payers' money in order to support a very outdated practice.

It must really irritate these pro whaling crowds.

You are confusing pro-whaling with anti-Sea Shepard. I believe there are a few of the former here but a lot more of the latter, including me.

Simple as that, dont sail thousands of kilometers and do it where you are not welcome.

Welcome by whom? The whaling is being conducted in international waters, not territorial waters of any nation, particularly Australia or New Zealand. And since you're probably going to mention the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary next, Japan's whaling there is completely legal because the sanctuary is designated by the IWC which enforces the ban on commercial whaling there while simultaneously permitting whaling there for scientific research. And you do know with who's authority Japan conducts its sanctioned scientific research whaling right? Hint: its three letters starting with I and ending with C...

Love him or hate him (or be indifferent ) Paul Watson - the most famous Canadian since Wayne Gretzky - is going to likely cause massive disruption to the government-funded whalers yet again this year. How many more failed hunts will it take the Japanese government to pull the plug on this economically damaging political farce?

Outta here

Not to mention they do not mind ignoring other nations sovereign waters and violate those areas.

I assume you are refering to Australian territorial waters? The Japanese whaling ships can transit or spend as much time as they want there when conducting 'innocent passage'. Australia prohibits whaling within its territorial waters. If you can site an instance where Japan's whaling fleet actually engaged in whaling in Australia's territorial waters in violating of Australian law then please feel free to do so.

USNinJapan2,

Thanks for the laugh..... Everyone and l mean everyone knows Japans so called research is nothing more than a cover for commercial whaling. Even your own countries representative to the IWC called japans activities "large scale commercial whaling" when questioned by a congressional committee. So please dont even start on supposed research. I know its easy to get confussed when the word RESEARCH is painted nicely on the side of the ships.

And let me ask you this, has Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, or any other nation or SS protested Japans northern pacific whaling activities? Does SS disrupt it like they do the Southern ocean one. Do the people or governments of the previously mentioned countries protest this hunt? Does it even make the news in those countries? I will help you out there its a two letter word starting with N and ending in O

confusing pro-whaling with anti-Sea Shepard. I believe there are a few of the former here but a lot more of the latter, including me.

Don't forget anti-whaling, anti-Sea Shephard, pro-whaling rights, including me.

USNinJapan2

I assume you are refering to Australian territorial waters? The Japanese whaling ships can transit or spend as much time as they want there when conducting 'innocent passage'. Australia prohibits whaling within its territorial waters. If you can site an instance where Japan's whaling fleet actually engaged in whaling in Australia's territorial waters in violating of Australian law then please feel free to do so.

Actually you are incorrect, Australian law does not only ban whaling in its waters but also the presence of whaling vessels within its waters. Which is why these vessels are banned from entering any port in Australia. Infact Australia is not the only nation with this law. Other nations also have similar laws including South American nations which ban the transit of a vessel carrying whale meat or products.

And for the record, ships may transit territorial waters but entering them and staying there, or shadowing other vessels in these waters is a no no as you would well be aware. These activities where witnessed last year. I just hope if we see a repeat this year our spineless government does more than demand they leave the area. And treats them like we do other illegal boats and sieze them

The criminal celebrity is back.

It really is sad how predictable this sort of popularity is. People kid themselves that it is about the whales. For Watson, maybe he has convinced himself, but for pretty much everyone else, it is little more than entertainment.

If there was someone on the side of the whalers (who wasn't paid by or connected to Japanese) who went out there and humiliated Watson up, down, and side-ways, viewers would immediately turn to the new guy and cheer him on.

Australian Law Enforcement has duty to arrest him if he was in Australian territory's land or sea.

Ignorant opinion disguised as fact. Could you research your claims if you aren't sure, would give you more ceribility

And let me ask you this, has Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, or any other nation or SS protested Japans northern pacific whaling activities? Does SS disrupt it like they do the Southern ocean one

Believe whaling in Taiji gets big press attention. They even made a movie about it. What is your point here?

terrorists support their own kind. scroll up for evidences.

spudman

Believe whaling in Taiji gets big press attention. They even made a movie about it. What is your point here?

My point here is quite simple. When did the whaling season (not the dolphin hunt, big difference) in the northern pacific ever get the attention that the Southern Ocean hunt gets. When was the last time the SS mob tried to stop it, when was the last time any of the nations mentioned complain about it? When was the last time it even made the news in the mentioned nations? The point is these pro Japan pro whalers use the argument that the world is picking on Japan for its whaling. Well if that was true then you would see the same protests, media hype etc over the Northern hunt but fact is you dont see any at all. Hence their argument is flawed and highlights their inability to see the real facts behind the issue

Interpol should be arresting this criminal soon, mark my words...now where's that sashimi shop where I can get my whale fix.

good for you south korea...see jpn, its not that hard

Seems both parties need to show they are still committed to continue doing whatever they are doing to make sure the funds keep coming in.

@ Ironbeard

Surprised at the level of support for this moron. He's a criminal.

Well said. Megalomaniac, terrorist and pirate are a few other words that come to mind. Hopefully this is the year the whalers stop playing nice with these idiots.

@ BurakuminDes

Paul Watson - the most famous Canadian since Wayne Gretzky

You should be ashamed of yourself for mentioning those two in the same breath. International icon vs international criminal .... doesn't really bear comparing.

Outtahere - I just hope if we see a repeat this year our spineless government does more than demand they leave the area. And treats them like we do other illegal boats and seize them

I like that! Wouldn't that cause a stir? Macquarie Island is Australian territory and they very well could impound the ship.

“We will discuss with relevant ministries how Japan will react to Watson’s being on board.”

Go ahead and discuss it -- just don't forget to talk about how it would be illegal to do anything to try and contain the man. Japan shouldn't be carrying out its "traditional" whaling culture in the Souther Ocean to begin with, let alone using relief funds to try and apply Japanese law to international waters.

I hope this year Australia actually gets tough and just impounds the Japanese ships when they enter Australian territory.

Watson is being too dramatic. He has shifted people's views away from 'save the whales' to 'give me fame.'

Outta here

Actually you are incorrect, Australian law does not only ban whaling in its waters but also the presence of whaling vessels within its waters. Which is why these vessels are banned from entering any port in Australia. Infact Australia is not the only nation with this law. Other nations also have similar laws including South American nations which ban the transit of a vessel carrying whale meat or products.

I believe you are confusing territorial waters with EEZ. EEZ does not give authority to ban what is on board a ship it simply is an exclusive economy zone to claim various resources within the designated area.

A salute to the captain for his ordeal and perseverance for a good cause. I do not agree with the violent tactics though. Just like Rosa Parks did with the bus system, the World can do the same thing by boycotting Japan Inc, just like this website suggests: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/stop-the-killing-boycott-Japan/

letsberealistic

Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks? Really? Watson couldn't spell 'nonviolent civil disobedience' if his life depended on it. Let's be realistic, please.

Why are some people so emotive and reactionary to Paul Watson being a criminal.

Because doing bad in the name of good is nothing more than an excuse to do bad. Attacking people who are not attacking you or other people has always been considered bad, particularly if the only reason you are doing so is because you believe that you are above the rules agreed to by an international organization.

It:s a bit like being back at school - *he:s a bad boy Miss, he did bad things!

Precisely. Similarly, the bad boy often excuses himself by saying he wasn't doing anything bad; it's the other guy's fault, not his!

Which is actually another problem in and of itself. There is something of a childish result when emotional responses are given priority over reasoned debate. One can see it reflected in this thread on a minor level: Notice how pro-Shepard or anti-whaling (and even some non-pro-whaling comments) are being marked up or down based on content, however all pro-whaling comments are being automatically marked down to neg 4-6, regardless of quality or content.

He is over the time and aggressive, even dangerous, but think of all the positive changes made in history by people who broke the law for a cause they believed in.

It's isn't so much a matter of breaking the law, in and of itself. It's which law he broke. If it is a law that is demonstrably wrong or immoral, then sure, people have a duty to break that law.

But what law is Watson breaking? He is breaking the law of non-violence. He is attacking a ship that has not attacked him, has not put anyone else in danger, and has not been found guilty of any crime, let alone a crime of violence against others. Indeed, an organization, one which is universally agreed to not be immoral or corrupt, is fully aware of and has legitimized the actions of the ship.

In other words, no one has the moral right to use violence against a non-violent opponent.

If it were not for people breaking the law; women would not have the vote and blacks would not have equal rights in the States among others. Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks all blatantly broke the law and were labelled dangerous all because they believed change for the good was needed. Not saying Watson is the same level as them, but just saying.

Same level? He isn't even in the same concept. His actions are utterly selfish. He wants his opinions to be dominant, his desires to be obeyed, and if the IWC has a problem with that, if Japan, Norway, Iceland has a problem with that, that's too damn bad, he is going to attack anyone who does something that he doesn't approve of. The problem with your comparison is that you are comparing a person of violence to people who are pretty much famous specifically because of their non-violence.

If you change your comparison to people like Watson who use violence to demand change, you can see the inappropriateness of your argument a bit more clearly:

"Timothy McVeigh, Ted Kaczynski, and Andrew Stack all blatantly broke the law and were labelled dangerous all because they believed change for the good was needed. Not saying Watson is the same level as them, but just saying."**

Outta here. Its funny how South Korea can manage to conduct scientific research without killing whales yet Japan cannot. I guess its easy to see which is the more civilized,

I must 100% disagree with you the way you judge how some country is civilized or not. I guess its easy to see how you judge it, that is very superficial.

There are two types of survey methods: research that is impossible without killing whales (lethal methods) and the kind that can be done without killing any (non-lethal methods). For instance, non-lethal sighting surveys using the line transect method are carried out to find out abundance estimates of whale stocks. However, data for the estimation of age at sexual maturity and pregnancy rate, the measuring of blubber thickness, and weight and prey species of stomach content are not possible without killing the whales. As with the previous program, JARPA II combines both lethal and non-lethal methods according to research purposes.

Outta hereDec. 05, 2012 - 02:23PM JST Its funny how South Korea can manage to conduct scientific research without killing whales yet Japan cannot. I guess >its easy to see which is the more civilised, advanced country trying to be a positive member of the international >community and who is just a belligerent, juvenile, rogue state..........

Yea but South Korea continues to eat dogs despite global outcry for decades so I don't know how you define "civilized".

There are two types of survey methods: research that is impossible without killing whales (lethal methods) and the kind that can be done without killing any (non-lethal methods). For instance, non-lethal sighting surveys using the line transect method are carried out to find out abundance estimates of whale stocks. However, data for the estimation of age at sexual maturity and pregnancy rate, the measuring of blubber thickness, and weight and prey species of stomach content are not possible without killing the whales. As with the previous program, JARPA II combines both lethal and non-lethal methods according to research purposes.

You forgot to mention that " The IWC has asked its members that conduct research whaling programs to demonstrate that the research provides critical information, that the research is needed for whale management purposes, and that non-lethal research techniques are not able to provide the same information. The IWC has issued at least 19 resolutions criticizing Japan for failing to meet these conditions and asking it to stop issuing permits."

Chamkun

In addition, the joint non lethal research between NZ and Oz (AWE) was an utter disaster for which yielded less data than that of a non-lethal method portion in which JARPA conducted. It's simply amazing that while the Australian/NZ press was mass hyping this joke of a research but little or no press coverage of their shortfall.

http://theinconvenienttruthonwhaling.blogspot.com/2011/03/legality-of-whaling-part-ii-research.html

From memory, the last published "study" from all this whaling was in 2008.

"The study, in which 6779 whales were sampled and more than 4500 killed, implied that Antarctic Minke whales lost 9% of their blubber over 18 years due to a lack of ocean resources such as krill."

Millions of dollars government (tax payers) money and 18 years of whaling for that vital piece of information. I should also be noted, that since the arrival of the SS boats in the southern oceans, the annual whale catch has dropped by two thirds. CLEARLY the SS boats are having an impact.

The strange thing is, they still cannot even sell all the whale meat that process. Clearly it has fallen out of favour with the general Japanese population.

USninjapan2

Well said.Thank you. I know a quite many Japanese who are not pro-whaling.I have a hunch that there are many less pro-whaling people in Japan. more than the most anti-whaling people in the world wish there were not.

I wonder how many people have eaten whale and dolphin out of 130,000,000 population. Fro whales, a very few,For dolphins, extremely rare. I have never had Dolphins, even I had not known till The Cove was relaesed. I have not had whales for 50 years since I was a elementary school kid.In late 50s, that was served at school for launch.

But with anti-Sea Shepard Eco-Terrorist organization, YES, I would say 99% of people here in Japan Say NO to SS. I respect all opinions for this issue but SS is not saying their opinion. They say ''life is important'' while they are throwing some acid bottle to Japaneses people.If they said ''Japanese life is not important'' I would hate it but it would make more sense to me.

I have my opinion which might not be too far a way from the most of you are here about whaling but I have a huge problem the way Watson handles the issue. He already provoked Japan enough.He should stop it now. After that, since Japan is not doing things illegally, let the natural democratic process happen in Japan it self.

USNinJapan2DEC. 05, 2012 - 11:40PM JST letsberealistic Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks? Really? Watson couldn't spell 'nonviolent civil disobedience' if his life depended on it. Let's be realistic, please.

Unfortunately, sometimes, action is required. Do you consider Nelson Mandela to be a terrorist? Nonviolent civil disobedience did not work in fight against the old government in South Africa, it did not work against Gaddafi and it will not work against Japanese Whalers.

This is a "fight" with one side fighting for the money and one side fighting for their beliefs. As the money is already starting to run out, I know which side will win.

ChamkunDEC. 06, 2012 - 01:12AM JST

I say to you sir. No one is "against" the Japanese people. Most love Japan and feel bitter disappointed that the actions of a small minority are having such a negative impact on Japan.

Writing another fat check to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society today! Thank god there are people like Captain Paul Watson in the world.

Sea Shepherd should give up their antics in the southern ocean and just unleash a swarm of small boats in the port that harbors the whaling vessels. Bottle 'em up right at home. It would be worlds safer, less expensive, and it would get Mr. Watson and his crew all the media coverage that they seem to love so much. And it would probably do a better job of actually saving whales, which appears to be a slightly lower priority for Mr. Watson than media whoring.

Across two oceans and countless rivers, over three mountain ranges, across a desert, over lakes, and through dozens of cities and towns. A trifle inconvenient without a passport or any form of identification and all the more difficult without credit cards or access to ATM machines, without access to the Internet or even a cell phone.

It's a shame he didn't stop and write a book. He could have called it "Mein Kampf."

Unfortunately, sometimes, action is required. Do you consider Nelson Mandela to be a terrorist?

A man who won the Nobel Peace prize, who spend decades upon decades in peaceful negotiation, and who used violence against people who used violence against non-violent people? How is that anything like Watson?

Nonviolent civil disobedience did not work in fight against the old government in South Africa,

Nor, strangely, did violence from the old South African government work to remove opposition. Indeed, it only served to turn peaceful negotiation to civil disobedience, and then to military action. You would almost think there was a lesson in there somewhere.

it did not work against Gaddafi

Wait...you are using as an example a guy who gained his power from a bloodless coup, but began being criticized and censured by foreign governments for using violence on dissenters?

Maybe you should reconsider some base assumptions you seem to be taking for granted.

and it will not work against Japanese Whalers.

And yet, no violence was used to get the Japanese whalers to stop whaling in the first place.

Coercion, yeah, sure, followed by betrayal, which prompted the reluctantly non-whaling Japanese to begin the limited "research" whaling, as permitted and requested by the IWC (because back then, non-lethal wasn't even an option; heck, even today, there are questions regarding its reliability). Personally, after being screwed over, I would have told the IWC to sod off and direct any complaints to the U.S., but apparently Japan was willing to settle for a peaceful compromise. Then again, I don't think the IWC is being honest to its charter, that being responsible whaling, not the eventual strangulation of whaling.

Much like China refuses to appreciate that the central government purchasing the Senkaku islands was an attempt to keep things peaceful, so are anti-whalers refusing to appreciate that Japan is limiting its whaling on an entirely volunteer basis, even after they were coerced and betrayed.

Everyone and l mean everyone knows Japans so called research is nothing more than a cover for commercial whaling

They don't. And I mean they really don't. Only the uninformed would refer to the research as a cover.

The below is taken from the FAQ on Whaling at the Embassy of Japan in Australia website. (http://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/e-web/whaling.html)

Q1. What is the view of the Japanese Government on the conservation of whales?

There are more than 80 species of whales or cetaceans in the world. While some species are endangered, others are overabundant. The Japanese Government strongly supports the protection of endangered species such as Blue Whales and Bowhead Whales.

On the other hand, we consider that sustainable use of some whale species should be allowed like other living marine resources that are useful for humans such as fish and shellfish, if best scientific evidence shows that those species are not endangered.

Although we understand many people do not want to consider whales as marine resources or food, we believe each society should respect the cultures of others, keeping in mind the fact that different eating habits and food cultures have developed throughout history in the divergent environments among different countries.

Good on S. Korea,

The Japanese public who were polled said overwhelmingly not to replace or upgrade the Yushin Maru, there seems to be a good chance that this the last year for Japanese whaling, at least as it now exists. Good riddance, now we can get on with other environmental concerns.

AriesKJJ, sustainable whaling is not an environmental concerns.

SamuraiBlue

I believe you are confusing territorial waters with EEZ. EEZ does not give authority to ban what is on board a ship it simply is an exclusive economy zone to claim various resources within the designated area.

Actually no lm not confusing anything. Please refer to news reports on the subject from 11th Feb 2011 when the Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru approached the Chilean EEZ and the Chileans announced they would dispatch their naval vessels to monitor and enforce its ban on whaling or transporting of whale products through its waters (including EEZ).

Daijoboots

"Everyone and l mean everyone knows Japans so called research is nothing more than a cover for commercial whaling" They don't. And I mean they really don't. Only the uninformed would refer to the research as a cover.

MMM so l guess you would call the Australian, NZ, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Argentina etc etc governments uninformed then? And l guess that you would call the US representative to the IWC uninformed as well because that is exactly how they refered to Japanese whaling "as large scale commercial whaling" in a congressional hearing a couple of years ago. So all these people and governments are uninformed about the cough research whaling hey?

The below is taken from the FAQ on Whaling at the Embassy of Japan in Australia website. (http://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/e-web/whaling.html)

MMM nice quote, pity the embassy to it straight from the JWA website. Kind of loses some of its impartiality when it comes from the Japanese Whaling Association. So the embassy just became their mouthpiece.

Outta here

They can monitor but the boarding part is a bluff and you accepted it out of blind faith that is all. To board another ship without any evidence is gross violation of UNCLOS Part 5 Article 58;

Article58

Rights and duties of other States in the exclusive economic zone

In the exclusive economic zone, all States, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy, subject to the relevant provisions of this Convention, the freedoms referred to in article 87 of navigation and overflight and of the laying of submarine cables and pipelines, and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to these freedoms, such as those associated with the operation of ships, aircraft and submarine cables and pipelines, and compatible with the other provisions of this Convention.

Articles 88 to 115 and other pertinent rules of international law apply to the exclusive economic zone in so far as they are not incompatible with this Part.

In exercising their rights and performing their duties under this Convention in the exclusive economic zone, States shall have due regard to the rights and duties of the coastal State and shall comply with the laws and regulations adopted by the coastal State in accordance with the provisions of this Convention and other rules of international law in so far as they are not incompatible with this Part.

https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/part5.htm

Here is the link to article 88 to 115

https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/part7.htm

Outta here

A nation has ownership of the natural resources that are found within its EEZ and can legally control what is extracted from within its EEZ. A nation does NOT have the legal right to say what may and what may not pass through its EEZ or restrict other nations' vessels' transit through or loitering in its EEZ as long as the activities are not related to the natural resources found within the EEZ. Nations like Australia and Chile may pass laws forbidding certain things like whale parts to be transported through their EEZs but such laws are contradicotry to United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea and are in effect merely symbolic laws that are not recognized by the international maritime community. Furthermore, they are laws that deal with customs related issues and their actual jurisdictions are limited to their territorial seas and contiguous zones. In short, as long as Japan doesn't actually kill whales within the EEZ no one can tell them that they can't transport whale meat (that is caught elsewhere) through any EEZ they choose. The governments of Australia and Chile know where full well their legal limitations and so may say a lot but never actually enforce their laws which prohibit the transport of whale parts through their EEZs...

@ cabadaje - excellent posts. Bravo. And its crickets from the militant environmentalists on all of your points. Please keep contributing to this topic.

nigelboy

In addition, the joint non lethal research between NZ and Oz (AWE) was an utter disaster for which yielded less data than that of a non-lethal method portion in which JARPA conducted. It's simply amazing that while the Australian/NZ press was mass hyping this joke of a research but little or no press coverage of their shortfall

Yeah, yeah. When you quote a rant website, you lose credibility. To find out more about the successful research expedition I refer you to a reliable site:

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-us/publications/australian-antarctic-magazine/2006-2010/issue-18-2010/first-non-lethal-whale-study-answers-big-questions

2020hindsights

If I am reading the link correctly Australians are doing research on a different species. Japan is doing it on Minke whales the Australians are doing it on Humpbacks. Japan has no intentions on hunting humback at the moment so the research has nothing valid in determining if Minke whales if sustainable for commercial hunting.

I also find it hard to believe that a whale would stay still for it to be stabed and lift a peice of skin off it's back. If they are collecting samples that had peeled off then it is useless due to contamination. Also DNA sampling cannot deduct the age of the animal required to evaluate the demographics of the population to determine the population vitality which was one of the question raised from the anti whaling nations in discussion lifting the moratorium on commercial whaling something that can only be done through lethal research.

Japan has no intentions on hunting humback at the moment

'At the moment' means nothing. It's only international outrage that has stopped Japan killing humpbacks so far.

In 2007, Japan announced it would defy a 50-year global ban on hunting humpbacks by killing 50 of the endangered mammals amongst a total whale quota of 1000. Advertisement It later dropped the plan to hunt humpbacks - focusing instead on killing more than 900 minke and 50 fin whales - but has not removed them from successive quotas.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/hunt-threatens-300m-whalewatching-industry-20111223-1p7rz.html#ixzz2EF32bJwq

There's no reason the methods used to research humpbacks cannot be used to research minke, with the one small proviso that researching whales without killing them doesn't produce any meat. As for the whales staying still for the samples to be removed - of course they don't any more than they stay still to be harpooned.

The master of Australia's last whaling vessel, who knows all about whaling, now says - there's no way you can humanely kill a whale. "If you don't hit them in the right spot you simply hurt the animal and have to hold fast to it, like a fish on a hook. "It may take 10, 15 minutes or more just to get a couple of extra shots in to kill them. "They don't die easily. "If there's no need to kill them, why kill them?"

Thank you Captain Watson for protecting our oceans. You are our hero!!

If I am reading the link correctly Australians are doing research on a different species.

The point is that you can do equally valid research without killing whales.

Love him or hate him (or be indifferent ) Paul Watson - the most famous Canadian since Wayne Gretzky

You must have forgotten about Zarley Zalapski.

Watson has admitted to travelling without a passport, and should be arrested for that, as well as his other crimes.

Oo is these obscure Canadians wot is supposed to be more famous than Watson?

There are far more eminent, famous Canadians around; James Cameron, William Shatner, Celine Dion, Michael J Fox, Stephen Pinker, Margaret Atwood, to name a few. Not sure what their stand on whales is, though.

Why the fat captain cares so much about some stupid dumb whales is a mystery.

What's a whale ever done for you?

Yeah, yeah. When you quote a rant website, you lose credibility. To find out more about the successful research expedition I refer you to a reliable site:

2020hindsights.

I wouldn't necessary call an assessment on the results of the research, "rant" website. Perhaps the credibility should be questioned on AWE's results.

Let's review one of objectives in the AWE's mission.

•To understand feeding behaviour of Southern Ocean whales (particularly humpback, Antarctic minke and blue), including interactions with pack-ice, krill and their environment

One question for you. How many biopsy sample did AWE attain for Antarctic minke whale?

Outta here, Japan is Whaling in International Water. UN dose not recognize Australian Antarctic territorial waters clams. However, the controversial Australian Antarctic Territorial Water was recognized by only 4 nations but Japan does not recognize Australian's clams. They are United Kingdom, New Zealand, France and Norway.

Probie

Why the fat captain cares so much about some stupid dumb whales is a mystery. What's a whale ever done for you?

Simple, "Whale War".

The master of Australia's last whaling vessel, who knows all about whaling, now says - there's no way you can humanely kill a whale.

Not a very imaginative man.

I also find it hard to believe that a whale would stay still for it to be stabed and lift a peice of skin off it's back. If they are collecting samples that had peeled off then it is useless due to contamination. Also DNA sampling cannot deduct the age of the animal required to evaluate the demographics of the population to determine the population vitality which was one of the question raised from the anti whaling nations in discussion lifting the moratorium on commercial whaling something that can only be done through lethal research.

Additionally, even though biopsy can tell us, in a roundabout estimation sort of way, how many calories a whale consumed, it cannot tell us what it consumed or where it consumed it, and we have little way of knowing its impact on specific populations of other fish in the area. It would be pointless to save the whales and then doom a half-dozen other fish to extinction from overfeeding.

Similarly, biopsy won't tell us anything about the different stages of maturation of a given whale species, a rather vital piece on knowledge in the "successful population" arena.

Man the torpedoes.

"The deck of the Steve Irwin is again under my feet," Watson said late Tuesday. "I have an awesome crew and our ship is on course for Antarctica."

.....Sea Shepherd, whose vessels harass the Japanese whaling fleet to prevent them slaughtering whales, had previously said its ships would journey north to head off the harpoonists before they reached Antarctica. "Apparently they believed it," Watson said. "Their coast guard mobilized and they went to a great deal of expense and effort to sneak quietly out of port. Of course we had no intention of heading north at all. We are waiting for them in the south, but before they reach the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary."

Since there is only Watson's word that Watson is on the scow Steve Irwin, and given Watson's history of not telling the truth, there' doesn't seem to be any reason to believe that Watson is actually on the Steve Irwin.

Would think the possession of something illegal is enough. Whale meat is illegal in Australia, like dope is in America/Japan. So if the Aussies can not Japanese whale boats then the American should not be able to stop dope boats within their EEZ.

What the SS does at sea is truly act's of a criminal nature, and not loopholed. "The end does not justify the mean's" Stop whaling and anti-whaling all together.