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Second whaling ship leaves the hunting grounds
Posted by jossc on 18 January 2008.
Here's the latest video update from Esperanza, on patrol in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary protecting fin and minke whales from whalers, plus a blog update from Dave, our intrepid onboard webbie:
A second ship from the Japanese government whaling fleet left the hunting grounds today as our ship Esperanza continues to keep the fleet's mother ship, Nisshin Maru, out of action.
The Yushin Maru No.2, one of the harpoon-carrying "catcher boats" which actually make the kill, rendezvoused with the Nisshin Maru hundreds of miles north of the whale hunting ground.
The Esperanza has been chasing the Nisshin Maru since it discovered the whaling fleet in the early hours of January 13th. The Nisshin Maru ran from the whaling grounds, leading to six day chase during which no whales have been killed. Without the factory ship the fleet has been unable to hunt, because the whales must be transferred to the factory vessel, cut up and frozen immediately that they are harpooned.
Sakyo Noda, Greenpeace Japan Whale Campaigner on board the Esperanza said "We are very happy to see yet another of the fleet has left the whaling grounds, and we will do everything we can to ensure they do not return to hunting."
"We saw a number of whales surfacing and blowing in front of the catcher boat, and its fantastic to know that they are still safe from the harpoon, because we have kept the factory ship out of action and out of the hunting grounds," said expedition leader Karli Thomas.
Read more daily crew blogs at: http://weblog.greenpeace.org/whales/
Whaling
I wish good luck to the greenpeace ship its doing a great job. I cant believe Japan would do such a terrible thing to the most magnificent creatures our oceans play host to.
TurtleTom
Whaling
What a great job you are doing. It is seeing coverage of you guys on the news that prompted me to join this organisation. You have my full support. . keep up the good work and keep safe
Dx
Whaling in the name of science!
As a scientist my self I am dissgusted that the Japanese government use the reason of scientific research as their excuse for killing whales. We all know they are cathing them for the table, as research can be carried out without the need to kill them. Why do they still get away with it? I feel we have a weak govenemnt that is to scared to say anything that might upset the Japenese. Keep up the good work.
Whaling
Well done all,
This is big a break through in stopping the japanese whaling fleet. This is such an waste of a beautiful whale, the Japanese do not need the meat as they have a massive stock pile of meat in there country. I cannot believe that the world learders have turned a blind eye to this and seem to except this barbaric slaughter as the norm !!! I am so glad that Greenpeace have intervened and made a difference !!