Coast guard, police to inspect whaling fleet over activists' attacks

Sunday 13th April, 01:16 PM JST

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13 Comments

GrouchyGaijin at 03:53 PM JST - 13th April

Great, relying on the memories of eye-witness about a heated incident a few months ago. The worst kind of evidence. Talk about the blind leading the blind. Just find someone they don't like, beat a confession out of him, and throw him in jail. "The fleet, now returning to Japan, came under repeated attack between January and March. In an incident on March 3, bottles containing a chemical agent were hurled at the mother ship Nisshin Maru from a ship belonging to Sea Shepherd, a U.S. conservation activist group. A coast guard sheriff aboard the ship suffered minor injuries to his eyes at that time, according to the coast guard." It was an extract of butter. Stop the whaling and you'll stop the harrassment.
cleo at 04:28 PM JST - 13th April

obstruction of business

Scientific research is business? As in, commercial activities?
semperfi at 06:34 PM JST - 13th April
- * The **SEA SHEPHERD has been seized by Canadian authorities **, namely the RCMP, Canadian Coast Guard, & *Canadian Ministry of Fisheries *Officials. and, AS WELL, the Captain of the Sea Sheperd and the First officer have been charged for violating the safety of Canadian vessel and seal hunters.. . . . . . these are *malcontents *that need a cause . . .its whales for Japan . . .and seals for Canada - . Same old, same old . . . .It'll be all quiet on the High Seas for a while . . . :)
VoXman at 07:34 PM JST - 13th April

Its a shame they inspect the cargo for the baby whales that were killed for scientific research purposes.
Alfie_in_Tokyo at 07:41 PM JST - 13th April

If you pop down to the shopping arcade between Asakusa and Ueno, there is a shop on the corner with a furry blue toy whale in the window and stacks of whale-meat underneath. With the record levels of mercury in dolphin and whale, I would say that the scientific research will end up being on those who eat the stuff.
OssanII at 08:37 PM JST - 13th April

This issue isn't about whales. Or clubbing seals. Or anything else remotely connected to wildlife conservation or ecological concern. It's about assault and viloence on the high seas and endangerment of human life. Sea Sheperd needs to classified as a terrorist or pirate organization and prosecuted worldwide. The dutch need to pull the flag of registry. Whoever is seeling them insurance (kinda hard to imagine considering the nature of their activities) needs to pull the policy. Any vessel without H&M and Indemnity insurance will be rejected entry into just about any port in the world. So much for fueling and provisions.
semperfi at 06:22 AM JST - 14th April

OSSANIL

"It's about assault and viloence on the high seas and endangerment of human life."

Well said ! ! ! :)
tigris at 09:30 AM JST - 14th April

Ossan II: Exactly! And Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd should have his captain license revoked. He obviously suffers from narcissistic personality disorder.
Hughgarse at 10:30 AM JST - 14th April

obstruction of business

I thought it was research!
Fair dinkum! at 10:50 AM JST - 14th April

It's difficult to condone the actions of the Sea Shepard, however, it is equally difficult to condone the actions of the Japanese whaling fleet. Obstruction of business is truly what has happened, although it has happened to a supposed scientific research vessel. Is it just me or is there a bit of a contradiction there? Let's try, culturally justified defiant impudence. What will it take to make the Japanese fisheries realize whaling is a lost cause and they are poisoning their children by eating the stuff? I have kids here and I will be the first to make a public objection if they attempt to serve this poison to my kids in school.
greenteaonsens at 11:10 AM JST - 14th April

I hate both parties to this dispute with equal measure - who should I cheer for?

Environmental activistas: endangering human lives is not cool, no matter how worthy you think the cause

Japanese whalers: Knock it off already, your just doing this out of stubborn pride and to get government subsidies for an out of date and unpopular industry. Talk about cutting your nose to spite your face.

Can't someone knock both sides heads together and end this nonsense?
Patrick Smash at 02:37 PM JST - 14th April

The Sea Sheperd has acted in an irresponsible way, and its actions could have cost human life. I am no real fan of whaling, but if the Japanese do this nearer Japan I cannot really object as I'm not a veggie myself. Views on whaling do not change the fact that this ship is a danger, and I would agree that its license should be revoked.
frontandcentre at 02:45 PM JST - 14th April

Seems a rather pointless exercise since everyone's well aware of what Sea Shepherd did. These morons have now forgotten about the whales and gone off to protect the fur seals' right to eat each other as a result of overpopulation, how cute !!!!!