Caribbean whalers caught bloody-handed

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SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY

 

-- Dispatch from the Ocean Warrior, West Indies --

 

19 JULY, CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA -- After repeated denials from St. Lucian

authorities that whales are being killed here, Sea Shepherd has documented

proof to the contrary.

 

At 1700 Hours on July 19, one of numerous suspected whale killing boats that

Sea Shepherd has had under surveillance returned to Castries harbor. Two Sea

Shepherd inflatables moved to intercept and documented the bleeding body of

a baby pilot whale in the deck. The whale measured less than six feet and

clearly showed gunshot wounds on the body. The agitated whale killer

threatened the Sea Shepherd crew with a knife.

 

The dead whale was transported into the harbor alongside the Norwegian

cruise ship Monarch of the Sea, and many tourists had a full view of the

mutilated body of the young whale as its blood trailed into the water.

 

The killing of the whale was unreported, demonstrating that the fishermen

slaughtering pilot whales operate without regulations.

 

" Now we know why the St. Lucian authorities can deny whaling, " Said Captain

Paul Watson from the Sea Shepherd flagship Ocean Warrior. " They have chosen

to ignore the issue and are willfully ignorant of the slaughter. The whale

was cut up within view of the government office buildings in Castries. "

 

St. Lucia is expected to vote with Japan against all whale conservation

measures brought before the International Whaling Commission meeting

scheduled to begin in London on July 23.

 

Sea Shepherd has seen the evidence in St. Lucia of Japanese influence. Japan

has built a fishery complex, supplied millions of dollars worth of

development grants, and supplied fiberglass boats to the fishermen in return

for St. Lucia's vote at the IWC.

 

Many representatives of St. Lucia's strongest industry - tourism - are

worried about the image this Caribbean island nation is presenting to the

rest of the world.

 

The Sea Shepherd Conservation vessel Ocean Warrior arrived in St. Lucia on

July 18. It will be patrolling the waters of the Eastern Caribbean during

the meeting of the IWC in London.

 

" The Eastern Caribbean is the key to protecting the whales worldwide. It was

the Caribbean nations' siding with Japan that defeated the Southern Pacific

Whale Sanctuary in 2000, and this year they are helping Japan in its attempt

to overturn the worldwide moratorium on whaling, " said Captain Watson.

 

PHOTOS AT: www.seashepherd.org

 

 

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

22774 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Malibu, CA 90265

Tel.(310) 456-1141

Fax.(310) 456-2488

http://www.seashepherd.org

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