As mentioned in last night's blog, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society had located the Japanese Whaling Fleet and effectively put them on the run. Over the last 24 hours there have been some changes in what is going on in the Southern Ocean. First, the Bob Barker is no longer tailing the Nisshan Maru, the factory ship. Currently the Bob Barker is being tailed in Australia Territorial Waters by the Shonan Maru No.2, which contains armed guards. The Government of Australia has ordered the Shonan Maru No.2 out of Australian waters, an order that so far has been heeded by the Shonan Maru No.2. Elsewhere, the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin is currently being tailed by the Yushin Maru No.1. The Brigitte Bardot continues to chase the Yushin Maru No.3 some 300 miles away. Sea Shepherd's newest vessel, the Sam Simon is currently chasing down both the Nisshan Maru and the Yushin Maru No.2. Both Japanese vessels appear to be on the run from the Sam Simon. This means that each and every vessel of the Japanese Whaling Fleet is not hunting whales.
Australia continues to bark and bark at Japan to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean, but as expected, Japan has yet to do so. If things continue going the way they are, the Japanese Whaling Fleet will financially be destroyed. Sea Shepherd is performing the justice on the high seas that the nation of Australia has yet to do. Last year, the Japanese Government poured millions of dollars into security of the whaling fleet from the tsunami relief fund and the end result was Sea Shepherd cutting their kills down to a mere 25% of their quota. It is clear that the never quit attitude of the Japanese Government is willing to continue a fight that is all but lost. Every year, the whaling fleet is losing millions upon millions of dollars and even the ICR (Institute for Cetacean Research) wanted to call off the hunt for this year, but the Japanese Government forced it to continue. Morale has to be at an all time low for the whaling fleet. Morale has to be at an all time high for Sea Shepherd. So far no blood has been spilled. No harpoons fired. No whales killed. Hopefully Sea Shepherd will continue to keep it that way. For more information and updates visit www.seashepherd.org.au
