Japanese Whalers Sue Sea Shepherd Activists
Whaling authorities of Japan are taking new measures to combat the militant U.S. environmentalist anti-whaling group, Sea Shepherd—they are taking the group to court.
The Institute of Cetacean Research, along with masters of whaling vessels, have filed suit against the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and their leader, Paul Watson, in an attempt to stop the sometimes violent interference in Japan’s annual whale hunt. This is the first time Japan has pursued legal action against anti-whaling campaigners.
The Institute and Kyodo Senpaku, ship-owner, are seeking to obtain court orders from a District Court in Seattle, Washington, that would prevent the Sea Shepherd from engaging in all activities at sea that can cause harm to the crew, and vessels of whaling operations.
While the Institute of Cetacean Research operates legally under the name of research for the Japanese government, commercial whaling was banned under a 1986 International Whaling Commission agreement. The agreement does permit “lethal research”, but the Sea Shepherd vehemently claims the Institute’s vessels branded for research are a cover up for commercial whaling operations. As a result, the Sea Shepherd regularly dispatches vessels to harass and halt the Japanese whaling vessels, often using dangerous tactics to fulfill their mission.
PHOTO: Whale meat for sale in a Tokyo fish market.
The clash between the two groups has been escalating over several years. The Japanese believe the research is a critical scientific endeavor, but it is known that whale meat from such operations end up on tables in Japan.
Founder of the Sea Shepherd initiative, Paul Watson, told an Australian News Agency, AAP that they are not worried at all about the “frivolous” lawsuit, citing that their tactics (i.e. stink bombs, water cannons) have not broken any laws, and often utilize these means as defense from the larger whaling ships.
He added that the U.S. government doesn’t have much clout over their actions, as none of their ships are U.S.-flagged.
The lawsuit was launched after the advent of the new Japanese whaling season, with the fleet leaving port on Tuesday for the hunt.
Despite the lawsuit and increased protection to the whaling ships from the Japanese government, three vessels from the Sea Shepherd fleet are due to hit the seas from Tasmania over the next few days to confront, and try to disband, Japanese whaling activities.
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