ID :
162219
Sat, 02/19/2011 - 07:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/162219
The shortlink copeid
Sea Shepherd forces Japan to halt this season`s whaling+
TOKYO, Feb. 18 Kyodo -
Japan has halted its so-called research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean for this
season, slated to run until March, because of obstructive actions by the
antiwhaling group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Japanese fisheries
minister Michihiko Kano said Friday.
The Japanese government subsequently lodged protests with Australia, New
Zealand and the Netherlands -- where the Sea Shepherd vessels involved in the
disruptions make port calls or are registered -- urging the countries to take
steps to prevent them from undertaking such disruptive actions.
The group has disrupted Japanese whaling activities since 2005, but it is the
first time their actions have led to a suspension of Japan's annual research
whaling that runs from fall to spring.
''Unavoidably, we've decided to wind up our research whaling to secure the
safety of the crew and the boats,'' the minister of agriculture, forestry and
fisheries told a press conference. The whaling fleet will return to Japan as
early as the beginning of March.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano expressed outrage over Sea Shepherd's
actions in a separate news conference.
''I cannot help but feel angry over the fact that the crew members' safety was
being compromised,'' said the top government spokesman who stressed that Japan
will not halt its research whaling next year.
''We will not give in to such interference,'' Edano said, adding that
ministries and agencies concerned will work together to come up with thorough
measures to ensure that research whaling is conducted without harm to crew
members.
Among the steps that the ministry is studying is to scale down its research
whaling activities amid a shortage of funds as the Sea Shepherd's obstructive
actions have cut into whale meat sales, which partly fund research whaling.
The government is also looking into equipping the research whaling ships so
they can respond better to such interference and increasing the number of Japan
Coast Guard personnel accompanying whaling crews.
The latest move, however, will not affect Japan's research whaling in the
northwest Pacific including waters off the nation, an official at the Fisheries
Agency said.
Sea Shepherd Capt. Paul Watson welcomed the Japanese government's decision,
saying the suspension meant ''a victory for the whales.''
The four-vessel whaling fleet, led by the 8,044-ton Nisshin Maru, left Japan
for the Antarctic Ocean on Dec. 2, and has caught 170 minke whales against a
quota of around 850 and 2 fin whales against a quota of around 50 this season,
both record lows.
In a show of protest, State Foreign Secretary Yutaka Banno summoned the
ambassadors of Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands and conveyed to them
Tokyo's ''strong regret'' over their failure to stop the Sea Shepherd's
''violent actions,'' Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said.
''Their obstructive actions cannot be condoned because they illegally threaten
the life and property of Japanese whaling vessel crews who are engaged in
lawful research activities on the high seas and the safe navigation of Japanese
whaling ships,'' Maehara said.
''Although perceptions about whaling are different in each country, reflecting
its history and food culture, no country can block Japan's lawful research
whaling, let alone the Sea Shepherd,'' he said.
Sea Shepherd started its disruptive activities on Jan. 1, which included
throwing bottles containing chemicals at the Japanese vessel. Since spotting
the Nisshin Maru on Feb. 9, the group began chasing the ship and obstructing
its activities.
Japan has hunted whales since 1987 for what it says are scientific research
purposes after officially halting commercial whaling in line with an
international moratorium. Environmentalists condemn the activity as a cover for
the continuation of commercial whaling.
The International Whaling Commission at its annual meeting last June discussed
a proposal to allow Japan to hunt whales in Japanese coastal areas in exchange
for a reduction of its annual catch limit for research whaling, but the
proposal was deferred.
==Kyodo
Japan has halted its so-called research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean for this
season, slated to run until March, because of obstructive actions by the
antiwhaling group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Japanese fisheries
minister Michihiko Kano said Friday.
The Japanese government subsequently lodged protests with Australia, New
Zealand and the Netherlands -- where the Sea Shepherd vessels involved in the
disruptions make port calls or are registered -- urging the countries to take
steps to prevent them from undertaking such disruptive actions.
The group has disrupted Japanese whaling activities since 2005, but it is the
first time their actions have led to a suspension of Japan's annual research
whaling that runs from fall to spring.
''Unavoidably, we've decided to wind up our research whaling to secure the
safety of the crew and the boats,'' the minister of agriculture, forestry and
fisheries told a press conference. The whaling fleet will return to Japan as
early as the beginning of March.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano expressed outrage over Sea Shepherd's
actions in a separate news conference.
''I cannot help but feel angry over the fact that the crew members' safety was
being compromised,'' said the top government spokesman who stressed that Japan
will not halt its research whaling next year.
''We will not give in to such interference,'' Edano said, adding that
ministries and agencies concerned will work together to come up with thorough
measures to ensure that research whaling is conducted without harm to crew
members.
Among the steps that the ministry is studying is to scale down its research
whaling activities amid a shortage of funds as the Sea Shepherd's obstructive
actions have cut into whale meat sales, which partly fund research whaling.
The government is also looking into equipping the research whaling ships so
they can respond better to such interference and increasing the number of Japan
Coast Guard personnel accompanying whaling crews.
The latest move, however, will not affect Japan's research whaling in the
northwest Pacific including waters off the nation, an official at the Fisheries
Agency said.
Sea Shepherd Capt. Paul Watson welcomed the Japanese government's decision,
saying the suspension meant ''a victory for the whales.''
The four-vessel whaling fleet, led by the 8,044-ton Nisshin Maru, left Japan
for the Antarctic Ocean on Dec. 2, and has caught 170 minke whales against a
quota of around 850 and 2 fin whales against a quota of around 50 this season,
both record lows.
In a show of protest, State Foreign Secretary Yutaka Banno summoned the
ambassadors of Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands and conveyed to them
Tokyo's ''strong regret'' over their failure to stop the Sea Shepherd's
''violent actions,'' Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said.
''Their obstructive actions cannot be condoned because they illegally threaten
the life and property of Japanese whaling vessel crews who are engaged in
lawful research activities on the high seas and the safe navigation of Japanese
whaling ships,'' Maehara said.
''Although perceptions about whaling are different in each country, reflecting
its history and food culture, no country can block Japan's lawful research
whaling, let alone the Sea Shepherd,'' he said.
Sea Shepherd started its disruptive activities on Jan. 1, which included
throwing bottles containing chemicals at the Japanese vessel. Since spotting
the Nisshin Maru on Feb. 9, the group began chasing the ship and obstructing
its activities.
Japan has hunted whales since 1987 for what it says are scientific research
purposes after officially halting commercial whaling in line with an
international moratorium. Environmentalists condemn the activity as a cover for
the continuation of commercial whaling.
The International Whaling Commission at its annual meeting last June discussed
a proposal to allow Japan to hunt whales in Japanese coastal areas in exchange
for a reduction of its annual catch limit for research whaling, but the
proposal was deferred.
==Kyodo
