Sea Shepherd is Halting Whaling Operations - Blocking the Loading Slipway

[Annces]

Whaling Opponents Collide at Sea
Update from the Ross Sea
Sea Shepherd's Operation Musashi

February 6th, 2009
0800 Hours (Sydney Time)
1300 Hours (PST) (February 5th)
75 Degrees 44 Minutes South and 165 Degrees 39 Minutes West

The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin collided with the Yushin Maru #2 this morning as the harpoon vessel moved in to block the Steve Irwin's attempt to prevent the transfer of a dead whale up the slipway of the Nisshin Maru.
"We were in the process of blocking the transfer from the Yushin Maru #2 when the Yushin Maru #1 moved directly in front of the bow to block us," said Captain Watson. "I could not turn to starboard without hitting the Yushin Maru #1. I tried to back down but the movement of the Yushin Maru #2 made the collision unavoidable."

The Yushin Maru #2 was transferring a 2nd whale killed this morning.

"The whalers have decided to test our resolve," said 1st Officer Peter Hammarstedt. "They have escalated this battle to see just how determined we are to protect these whales. We're shepherds and we will do what we can to protect our flock from these murderous poachers."

The Yushin Maru #3 has also killed a whale but is unable to approach the factory ship because the Steve Irwin is now guarding the slipway.

The Sea Shepherd crew intend to hold this position to prevent the transfer.

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-090205-2.html

[villager]

1. Bravo!

Now we need 'em to blockade the Republicans!

[Barrett808]

2. Whale poachers getting desperate

Could get more dangerous before it gets less.

[life long demo]

3. I second the BRAVO

Good for you the ship Steve Irwin.

[Booze]

4. Is this the action ?

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=06d_1233928779

Looks like a deliberate ram to me.

[Massacure]

5. Isn't there a way to prevent these whales from being useful to the Japanese?

What would happen if the Sea Shepherd shot darts with cyanide into the dead whales so that they could not be consumed or something?

[flvegan]

6. Part of the reason SSCS tosses the "butter bombs" is because when it gets wet

and flows down the decks, it ruins any whale meat it touches. Thing is, the entire whaling expedition is an exercise in futility for the Japanese. They can't sell/get rid of the mega tons of whale meat they have in storage. It's just about acting in the face of the law. If they stop doing "research" because demand is down, how will they justify starting it back up if eating whale catches back on?