Members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society stand aboard their anti-whaling protest ship Steve Irwin near Japan’s whaling research ship, in the Southern Ocean, on Friday.
REUTERS/The Institute of Cetacean Research/Handout

Sea Shepherd ship collides with Japanese whaler in Antarctic

Friday 06th February, 10:43 AM JST

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cleo at 09:26 AM JST - 16th February

The Japanese government does follow the quota set by the IWC. If you think that quota is not justifiable, show me some evidence.

The IWC does not set any quota for 'scientific research', the country doing the 'research' does that. The IWC has passed many resolutions stating that Japan's 'research' is unnecessary and urging Japan to stop. The fact that the IWC is unable to enforce its resolutions makes it a joke.

As far as I'm concerned.

http://www.iwcoffice.org/meetings/resolutions/Resolution2007-1.pdf
nagoyanative at 02:20 PM JST - 16th February

cleo:

IWC does not set any quota for 'scientific research', the country doing the 'research' does that.

Well, you are right and I was mistaken. That doesn't change my opinion that Japan should leave the IWC though. It seems that the IWC has the agenda of stopping commercial whaling altogether regardless of the scientific evidence of the sustainability of whaling. I mean, when anti-whaling people applaud the SS for threatening the lives of Japanese whalers, why should we even care about the IWC?
cleo at 02:53 PM JST - 16th February

anti-whaling people applaud the SS for threatening the lives of Japanese whalers

No one is threatening the lives of the whalers (as far as I'm concerned their nationality is immaterial, except that they're using my taxes). Saving the whales, now that I will applaud long and loud.
Aussieooo at 10:52 PM JST - 16th February

Cleo, I was about to correct nago's argument about the quota's being set by the IWC, you beat me too it... well done.

Nago You say the Japanese should leave the Iwc, because of unreasonable demands which are not based on scientific evidence.

That is the argument here, there is NOT enough scientific evidence as to the exact numbers of whales to make an informative decision on wether the whale populations (no one really knows) can sustain another commercial harvest. Japan's push for a return to commercial whaling is ALSO not based on any reliable scientific evidence, because there is none. History, a far more accurate indicator, has shown , whales can not sustain commercial harvesting. The anti whaling lobby suggests, as there IS NOT enough evidence of numbers, err on the side of caution and stop all whaling. And the other point, is that there is NO reason behind japans whaling, there is no reason for them to be propping up a dying industry, costing tax payers millions of dollars per year, for a product, nobody wants?

There is NO way whales and dolphins can be killed humanely at sea.

Japan leaving the IWC, I agree, there is no reason for them to be there. The only reason they are able to be whaling in a legally sanctioned whale sanctuary, is because of the HUGE loophole created by the IWC'S article V111 "science"scam.

When they leave the IWC, they will lose the loophole cover, and be open to the full might of international law.

Why do you think iceland and Norway do not go near the southern ocean?.
nagoyanative at 01:56 AM JST - 18th February

Aussieooo:

History, a far more accurate indicator, has shown , whales can not sustain commercial harvesting.

Your argument is flawed here. Without scientific evidence, how do you know commercial whaling is not sustainable? You just jumped to the conclusion that whaling should be banned. That's not a logical argument. The Japanese government has provided a ton of data already. If you believe that data is not accurate, show me the evidence.

And the other point, is that there is NO reason behind japans whaling, there is no reason for them to be propping up a dying industry, costing tax payers millions of dollars per year, for a product, nobody wants?

Again, I will point out to you that there are more supporters of whaling in Japan than those opposing it. It's not like "nobody wants" it to continue. You don't have to make a decision for us. That's extremely annoying and arrogant to say the least.

a legally sanctioned whale sanctuary

How many times do I have to tell you that the IWC is NOT a legal authority?

When they leave the IWC, they will lose the loophole cover, and be open to the full might of international law.

Which specific international law prohibits commercial whaling? Why should we be afraid of something that doesn't even exist?
Aussieooo at 09:20 PM JST - 18th February

So nago, Your saying that Japans scientific data (a ton of it, you said), is showing that whaling is sustainable.

Did you by any chance look at Japans "ton" of scientific data, in the website provided by cleo and myself, showing a breakdown by experts on japans "science" to date?

Where is the scientific data you speak of?.

And as far as your concerned Japans "ton" of data, claiming whales can be sustainably harvested is "gospel"?

Wouldnt you say, that opinion is extremely annoying and arrogent?

You are also saying that the scientific data from other scientists, AND the history of commercial whaling is invalid information.

In fact the IWC, and most other scientists, say it is impossible to obtain credible whale stocks numbers. The only way to ascertain approx numbers both now and pre-commercial whaling numbers is by non lethal dna testing, which has been extensivly carried out in the northen hemisphere so far, and the data so far shows that whale numbers were far more prolific pre-hunt than first thought.

On that basis, it appears that whales were and/or/are hunted in far greater numbers than were recorded.

This has also been backed up by log books from russians ships and fisheries coming to light recently just by chance, showing hundreds of thousands more whales were killed than recorded, and sent illegally to japan.

You can choose to believe ONLY what you hear from well paid japanese government officials or those posing as scientists, but that certainly dosent make it right.
Aussieooo at 09:29 PM JST - 18th February

The importance of the DNA tests, enable scientists to trace whales signature genes, enabling a good picture of pre-hunt populations.

All scientists agree that a species numbers must be above 54% of there PRE-hunt numbers to enable sustainable commercial hunting.

With the new and more accurate numbers obtained through DNA information, the numbers so far show that NO species of whale is at over 54 % of its pre-hunt numbers...therefore, no species is commercially sustainable, and may not be for another 50 years if left alone now.
Aussieooo at 09:30 PM JST - 18th February

Again, I will point out to you that there are more supporters of whaling in Japan than those opposing it. It's not like "nobody wants" it to continue. You don't have to make a decision for us. That's extremely annoying and arrogant to say the least.
Aussieooo at 09:35 PM JST - 18th February

I am not asking you if the japanese public wants it to continue, as you well know, they dont have a say in the matter.

I am asking you, with very few eating it,WHY is japan spending millions of tax payer dollars, when there country is entering a depression, to pursue whaling????????

What are the reasons to pursue a return to commercial whaling, when the public clearly does not want to eat whale anymore?

There has to be a motive, I have my ideas about that, but id like to hear what you have to say.
Aussieooo at 09:36 PM JST - 18th February

You don't have to make a decision for us.
Aussieooo at 09:40 PM JST - 18th February

Your statement above....

Cleary the International community CAN ask you to stop killing whales under an international moritorium on the commercial hunting of whales under the guise of "science", in International waters.

In your own country, within your own land and EEZ, you can kill anything you want. When japan sets itself on a path back to overturning the moritorium and killing off a SHARED RESOURCE, then YES...every nation has a say, and I think you are racist and arrogent to think otherwise.
Aussieooo at 09:48 PM JST - 18th February
Which specific international law prohibits commercial whaling? Why should we be afraid of something that doesn't even exist?<

Take your pick - United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,
- United Nations Charter on Nature,
- The Antarctic Treaty System,
- The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and
- The International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling
nagoyanative at 07:50 PM JST - 19th February

Cleary the International community CAN ask you to stop killing whales under an international moritorium on the commercial hunting of whales under the guise of "science", in International waters.

Sure, CLEARLY you can ask us, but CLEARLY we don't have to listen to you. Especially given the fact that the moratorium is not legally binding, it doesn't make sense to us, and you support these violent eco-terrorists.

Take your pick

So which specific articles of these laws Japan would violate if we leave the IWC and resume commercial whaling in the Antarctica? Some of them, such as the Antarctic Treaty System, are quite irrelevant in this discussion. The main purpose of the Antarctic Treaty System is to allow scientific activity and to ban military activity in the Antarctica. It doesn't have anything to do with whaling.

When japan sets itself on a path back to overturning the moritorium and killing off a SHARED RESOURCE, then YES...every nation has a say, and I think you are racist and arrogent to think otherwise.

Not really if that shared resource is sustainable. Also, this kind of dispute should be resolved not by the acts of violence but in court. Every nation has a say, of course, but it should be expressed in an appropriate fashion. If a case is filed against us and if we lose the case, we will listen. Until then, you have no right to tell us what to do.
Aussieooo at 11:07 PM JST - 19th February

Sea Shepherd campaigns are guided by the United Nations World Charter for Nature. Sections 21-24 of the Charter provides authority to individuals to act on behalf of and enforce international conservation laws.

Does japan not recognise any other International law, but the there own?

You say the shared resource is sustainable, but others that share that resource say it is NOT, there is NO scientific evidence to show that whales can sustain commercial harvesting, history has shown it can not.

Again, you have not answered my question..

With a total lack of scientific evidence to support japans claim they can sustain harvesting, and taking into account the lack of consumer support for whale meat, lack of true tradition, and the huge cost of harvesting whalemeat to the TAX PAYER...

I ask you why is japan persisting with this venture??????
Aussieooo at 11:11 PM JST - 19th February

Japan is in violation of the Antartic treaty which prohibits the refueling of vessels in the Antartic.

Japan is in violation of an Australian court order which bans whaling in its territories. japan is in violation of CITES laws banning the international trade in whale products, and the killing of endangered Fin whales.

japan japan refuse to accept or respect ALL australian and International laws which conflict with its whaling policies?