The Battle for the Whales Turns Ugly in the Ross Sea; Sea Shepherd Attacked

[Guest guest]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 4th, 2009 ( USA )

 

To Interview Captain Paul Watson on board the Steve Irwin

SAT Phone: (00) 870 764 685 972

(From the U.S. dial 011, from Australia 0011)

 

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society -International Headquarters – U..S.

Phone: +1-360-370-5650 * Email: media

Contact: Kristine Vasic, Media Relations Director

www.seashepherd.org

 

Sea Shepherd Australia

Melbourne Office: + 61 3 9445-0323

 

 

 

Photos, video, and additional information: http://media.seashepherd.org

 

The Battle for the Whales Turns Ugly in the Ross Sea

 

On board the Steve Irwin --The Ross Sea, 5 February, 2009, 1700 Hours Sydney Time

 

With the fifth day that the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin has shut down all whaling activities by the Japanese fleet, the frustration of the whalers violently erupted. A Fin whale was spotted at 1211 Hours. The Steve Irwin launched two fast inflatable boats to head off any attempt to harpoon the whale. The helicopter was launched to film the blocking action. All three harpoon vessels, the Yushin Maru #1, Yushin Maru #2 and Yushin Maru #3 attacked the Steve Irwin in dangerous passes to foul the Steve Irwin’s

propeller.

 

At 1220 the Yushin Maru #1 was a quarter mile away on the port side and heading directly towards the Steve Irwin. A 2nd harpoon vessel the Yushin Maru #2 was moving in a full speed from the Starboard side. The Yushin Maru # 3 approached rapidly from the stern. At 1230, the Nisshin Maru aimed the Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) at helicopter pilot Chris Aultman of California and Animal Planet cameraman Ashley Dunn of Tasmania .

 

“At first it was just a loud noise,” said Aultman. “Then they turned up the volume and we could feel it in our legs and chest.”

 

Aultman retreated out of range of the device but was shocked they used it.

 

“It was extremely irresponsible for the whalers to aim that devise at the helicopter,” said Captain Paul Watson. “They were doing nothing but filming and presented absolutely no threat to the ships. They demonstrated absolutely no regard for human life.”

 

At this point the harpoon vessels turned on their LRAD and aimed it at the small boats and the Steve Irwin. This sonic attack was followed by the Nisshin Maru turning into the Steve Irwin and attempting to actually ram the Sea Shepherd vessel at full speed. Captain Paul Watson ordered the small boats to act like fighter planes in a dog fight. “You’ve got to keep those hunter killer boats off our bow. If they cripple us down here we will be helpless,” he said.

 

The small boats retaliated by threatening to foul the props of the harpoon vessel. Steve Roest of the United Kingdom was injured when he became disoriented, dizzy and was knocked down cutting open his head. Ship’s doctor David Miller from Perth sutured the wound with five stitches. Captain Paul Watson received rope burns when he fired a speed line in front of the Yushin Maru #1 to force them to retreat from an attempt to cross the bow with a fouling line.

 

The whalers jammed the Steve Irwin’s radios and navigational instruments and kept a steady bombardment of the Sea Shepherd crew with the LRAD’s. Captain Watson spent four hours undertaking zigzag and circular maneuvers to avoid the prop fouling.

 

“The attacks by the three ships became so aggressive we had to fire flares and speed lines over their head to force them to back off,” said Captain Watson .

 

The small boats also retaliated with rotten butter bombs. The Steve Irwin retrieved both boats and the helicopter by going in tight circles with the three harpoon vessels circling on the outside blasting the crew with LRAD’s and towing fouling lines.

 

“It was very worrying for us,” said Steve Irwin 1st Officer Peter Hammarstedt of Sweden . “Our helicopter was almost out of fuel and the whalers were forcing us to keep avoiding them making it difficult for the helicopter to land.”

 

At 1700 Hours, the harpoon boats backed off and the Steve Irwin resumed the pursuit of the Nisshin Maru. The whaling fleet is once more running before the Steve Irwin heading due South deep into the Ross Sea .

 

“The crew are tired and a little dizzy from the LRAD’s,” said Dr. Miller. “But everyone is in good spirits and Roest is resting comfortably. They whalers were very aggressive.”

END

About Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

 

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an International non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protects ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations. Founder and President Captain Paul Watson , is a renowned, respected leader in environmental issues. Visit www.seashepherd.org for more information.

 

 

 

_____________Media mailing listMediahttp://lists.lists2.seashepherd.org/mailman/listinfo/media