Japan to 'quit' Antarctic whaling

[DainBramaged]

Japan's whaling fleet is believed to be quitting the Antarctic under heavy conservationist and diplomatic pressure, just half way through its worst ever season.

The Japanese Government has decided to cut short the season and the fleet is heading back to port, sources in Tokyo told the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

The sudden departure has raised hopes Japan may be moving to end its widely opposed, 23-year-old "scientific research" program, which has killed around 10,000 Antarctic whales.

Advertisement: Story continues below "Under pressure from all fronts, the Japanese whaling fleet is apparently withdrawing early this season from the internationally recognised sanctuary around Antarctica," said IFAW's global whales campaign director, Patrick Ramage.

"We hope this is a first sign of Japanese government decision makers recognizing there is no future for whaling in the 21st Century and that responsible whale watching, the only genuinely sustainable use of whales, is now the best way forward for a great nation like Japan," Mr Ramage said.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/japan-to-quit-antarctic-whaling-20110216-1aw0k.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tammywammy]

2. This is good news, if they really are stopping. n/t

[Kolesar]

3. Hayduke Lives!

[Forkboy]

14. ....

:toast:

[fishwax]

4. K/R!

:kick:

[Maru Kitteh]

5. For some silly reason, I don't trust them.

At all.

[underseasurveyor]

8. I don't either.

I fear they'll move to another killing sea.

[flvegan]

6. First, Sea Shepherd (SSCS) found them before they could start.

Second, SSCS kept harpoon ships busy so they couldn't do anything.
Third, SSCS chased off their fuel and supply ship.
Fourth, SSCS found the whaling Death Star, the Nisshin Maru and stuck to her ass like glue.
Fifth, SSCS chased them out of the whaling grounds.

How much money did you lose this year, Japan? Even a fake distress signal failed this year. Trying to ram the Gojira didn't work (that was last year's try). Fucked on all fronts. Yeah, drag your sad asses the fuck back home whalers. Don't come back.

Long live Sea Shepherd.

[Doremus]

10. +++++100000000

WTG, Sea Shepherd.

[LostInAnomie]

7. I don't believe them.

They're probably just looking for another "clever" euphemism to call it.

[Kolesar]

9. It sounds like the story was "leaked" and it is not an official announcement ...

...by the Japanese government or the whaling fleet.

[flvegan]

11. How does this only have 12 recs?

[DainBramaged]

13. The unrecing crew is strong with this one Obi-Wan ,,,,,

[flvegan]

16. It's okay, brother.

We can see it through.

[lonestarnot]

12. Sea Shepherd ROCKS!

[Cetacea]

15. If it ends, the crew should move to the infamous "Cove". n/t

[Parker CA]

17. K&r

[DainBramaged]

18. Sink the fuckers

[DainBramaged]

19. The first thread to report the undoing of the whaling fleet

accept no substitutes

[Mike 03]

20. This sounds like good news

I just wish they would stop the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji.