Conservationists gear up for whale season
Conservationists gear up for whale season
Militant conservationists have promised to ramp up their campaign against Japanese whalers when they depart Brisbane for the Southern Ocean next month.
About 44 volunteers from the Sea Shepherd conservation group will intercept and try to block whaling ships hunting for humpback, minke and fin whales for four months.
They will leave Brisbane on December 1 aboard their flagship vessel, Steve Irwin, and expect to come up against eight Japanese ships - six harpoon vessels, one supply ship and a factory ship.
The whaling vessels are believed to have coastguard escorts.
Ship manager Ben Baldwin said the operation was dangerous and since Captain Paul Watson was shot at during the last blockade early this year, extra funds had been poured into upgrading the ship.
He said Captain Watson was saved by a bulletproof vest.
"We have been working really hard this year to get the ship up to standard," Mr Baldwin said.
A helicopter deck and hangar have been built on the Steve Irwin and every room has been refitted for efficiency.
Mr Baldwin said Sea Shepherd was a non-violent organisation but under international law they were obliged to carry firearms on board.
"We haven't had anyone killed or injured during our 31-year history," he said.
"Our goal is to sink the whaling ships economically by preventing them from reaching their quota.
"We have stopped them from reaching their quota every year (in the past four years of this mission) and last year we halved it.
"We think their quota is 1,050 whales; the same as last year.
"We aim to stop them from killing any whales."
A helicopter will be used to locate and film the whalers and the action taken against them.
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