Operation Waltzing Matilda - Sea Shepherd

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Sea Shepherd ships to track whalers

 

5:49p.m. 25th June 2009

| By Cathy Alexander

 

Get ready for the next round of the whale wars - activists are coming back to Antarctic waters and this time there's an Australian flavour.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has announced it will send two ships to Antarctica this summer to trail Japanese whalers.

The mission, which is to include a "fast interceptor vessel" as well as the Steve Irwin, will be staffed mainly by Australians.

It's been called "Operation Waltzing Matilda" in honour of the Australian connection, according to Sea Shepherd spokesman Paul Watson.

"Australians are the most passionate whale defenders on the planet," Captain Watson said.

The activists will set sail from Western Australia in December.

Sea Shepherd activists have made headlines by chasing, obstructing and ramming whaling vessels, and hurling stink bombs onto their decks.

Capt Watson revealed his plans at an International Whaling Commission meeting in Portugal.

Japan gets around a ban on commercial whaling by hunting whales in the name of scientific research.

Capt Watson said his crew would do its own research.

"Of course, this may include research into ships' hull plate thickness, hull stress tests and paint chip analysis, as well as observation of whaler behaviour in response to olfactory stimulation."

Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who is in Portugal for the meeting, said Australia was "not writing a blank cheque for endless consultations" on whaling.

He told reporters that the option of taking legal action against Japan remained open, although he would not put a timeline on when it might happen.

http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/jun/25/aap-sea-shepherd-ships-to-track-whalers/