The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's ship Steve Irwin has reportedly driven the Japanese whaling fleet out of the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone.
"We have chased the whalers for over 800 miles since last Saturday through bad weather and heavy ice conditions," said Captain Paul Watson on the Sea Shepherd website. "They have fled eastward and they are continuing eastward and we are on their tail and we will keep on their tail."
Since finding the Japanese whaling fleet on December 20th, the Steve Irwin has reportedly had encounters with the harpoon vessel Yushin Maru #2 and the spotting vessel Kaiko Maru.
"What is now good news for the whales in Australian waters is now bad news for the whales in the waters south of New Zealand," explained Captain Watson. "They are still targeting endangered and protected whales in the waters of an established international whale sanctuary…”
The Steve Irwin has a crew of 40 international volunteers plus an Animal Planet film crew onboard producing the 2nd year of the series Whale Wars. Last year the Sea Shepherd crew pursued the Japanese whaling fleet from early December until mid-March. That intervention reportedly cost the whalers over $70 million in lost profits and saved almost 500 whales.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: http://www.seashepherd.org/
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