Asia-Pacific

Activists pursue Japanese whalers by helicopter

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-01-07 19:23

Activists pursue Japanese whalers by helicopter

A frame grab from a video released by the Institute of Cetacean Research shows the crew of the Japanese ship Shonan Maru No. 2 spraying water at the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's high-tech powerboat Ady Gil during a collision between the two vessels in the Southern Ocean January 6, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Japan kills about 1,200 whales a year in Antarctica during the December-February season. Sea Shepherd sends ships to try to stop the Japanese hunt, which Tokyo says is for scientific research, but conservationists claim is a cover for commercial whaling.

Sea Shepherd's aggressive and confrontational tactics have drawn criticism in the past from Greenpeace, which used to send ships to try to interfere with the hunt but now is seeking to change Japanese attitudes toward whaling by cultivating political allies in parliament.

Sea Shepherd is generally seen as belligerent in Japan and has garnered little sympathy. Two major newspapers put photos of the clash on their front pages Thursday. "This is what harassment leads to," said one of the captions.

But Sea Shepherd's efforts have spawned the Animal Planet TV series "Whale Wars," which has helped win the group high-profile patrons including former "Price is Right" TV host Bob Barker, who recently gave Sea Shepherd $5 million. The activists named a ship the Bob Barker, which rescued the Ady Gil's crew after the collision.

The Bob Barker tried to tow the Ady Gil on Thursday, but the damaged boat took on more water each time it was moved, Watson said. Crew were removing diesel fuel, the boat's two engines and other items in case it sinks.

He said Sea Shepherd did not intend to scuttle the boat, but that it was expected to sink when rougher weather arrives.

"That is our priority right now; to make sure there is no pollution from that vessel," Watson said.

Animal Planet spokesman Brian Eley said Sea Shepherd has no editorial control over "Whale Wars" and that it pays the group a nominal fee for space on its vessels, meals and incidentals.

Asked if producing the show raises the risk of violent confrontation, Eley replied: "Our production crew did not direct or control Sea Shepherd's actions. We have documented what happened, and our viewers can make their own judgments."