Sea Shepherd Conservation Society announces new operation against Japanese whalers

04/11/2008 10:57:24 Fifth Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign in the Southern Oceans

October 2008. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has announced its fifth Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign to the Southern Oceans to defend whales from the Japanese whaling fleet. This year's campaign has been named Operation Musashi in reference to the legendary Japanese strategist, great samurai warrior, strategist and tactician, Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645).

Economic goal
"We intend to sink the Japanese fleet economically," said Captain Paul Watson. "Our strategy is to prevent whales from being killed, to force the Japanese whalers to spend money on fuel without killing whales. We will once again intervene against illegal Japanese whaling and once again we intend to save the lives of as many whales as we can with the resources available to us. We have been the cause of the Japanese whaling fleet losing profits for three years in a row. We intend to make it a fourth year of red ink for the whaler's books."

Aggressive non-vioelnce
The name Operation Musashi was chosen to reflect Sea Shepherd's approach of aggressive, yet nonviolent, confrontation and the increasing global awareness of Japan's ongoing illegal whaling activities. However, as with all Sea Shepherd campaigns, all strategies and tactics are designed to avoid any physical injury to the whalers.
The Japanese whaling fleet is set to depart from Japan in November. The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin will leave Brisbane at the end of November.

The Japanese fleet and the Steve Irwin should arrive in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary around the same time. The Sea Shepherd crew has been preparing the Steve Irwin for the return to Antarctica, with a new helicopter deck and the helicopter has been completely overhauled. New equipment has been secured including fast interceptor boats. The international crew will be Australian, Canadian, American, British, French, Dutch, South African, Swedish, Chilean, and even include a Japanese crew member.

New tactics
"We have a few surprises for the whalers this year," said Sea Shepherd 2nd officer Peter Hammarstedt of Sweden. "We intend to be more aggressive and even more relentless in our interventions. We do not intend to witness the killing of any whales; we intend to make sure no whales are killed on our watch."