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Operation Musashi Continues…

Thursday, January 15, 2009
Posted in Whales | Tagged Whales

After chasing the Japanese whaling fleet over 2,000 miles across the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, we are forced to return to land to refuel. Operation Musashi has thus far been incredibly successful in opposing illegal whaling activities and has saved the lives of many whales. We estimate we will arrive in Hobart, Tasmania, on January 17th, rough seas permitting. We will refuel and reprovision so that we can return to the killing zone as quickly as possible and attempt to shut down the illegal slaughter once and for all.

Hajime Shirasaki, a 30 year old oiler from the Japanese whale spotting vessel Kyoshin Maru No. 2 disappeared on January 5th and was presumed lost. The Steve Irwin notified the Japanese fleet by marine VHF radio in English and in Japanese that they were there to provide assistance and especially to provide a helicopter search of the area, after contacting New Zealand Search and Rescue. The Yushin Maru No. 3 replied in Japanese that they did not want any help from an “eco-terrorist” organization.

Captain Watson specifically relayed the message that the Steve Irwin was not there to harass but to assist in the search and had no intention of continuing to oppose illegal Japanese whaling activities until the search was called off.

The Japanese whaling fleet has gone to a great deal of effort and expense to insure that Sea Shepherd crewmembers will not be able to board their ships this year. Sea Shepherd crew were able to document the extensive measures taken on the Yushin Maru No. 3 on January 7th.

“It really is quite amazing,” said Captain Watson. “The effort and expense that has gone into preventing us from boarding is ambitious. The ships can literally cover themselves with a net that can be deployed like a shower curtain around the vessel. Large fenders and sharp spikes protrude from the sides of the ship. It looks very formidable and very expensive.”

The battle to save the whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary has moved 3,000 miles north with activists in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia demonstrating before the Japanese Consulate and pressuring Indonesian authorities to block repairs on the pirate Japanese whaler Yushin Maru No. 2.

The Yushin Maru No. 2 left the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary on December 20th, 2008. They suffered ice damage to their prop while being pursued by the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin. Every day that this harpoon ship is kept out of the slaughter saves the lives of whales

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