Ship used in fight against Japanese whaling damaged in rough seas

By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com

An effort to save whales from being harpooned in Antarctic waters suffered a major setback Thursday when one of three ships being used to harass Japanese whalers was severely damaged by a rogue wave. The Brigitte Bardot, a scout vessel for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, was struck by the wave in 18-foot seas as it pursued the whaling factory ship, Nisshin Maru.

According to Sea Shepherd, the vessel suffered a cracked hull and was in danger of losing a stabilizing pontoon. It will be escorted to Fremantle, Australia, by Capt. Paul Watson aboard the Steve Irwin. There were no injuries to the 10 Brigitte Bardot crew members.

Japan annually targets more than 900 minke whales in the region, using a lethal research loophole in a long-standing international moratorium against commercial whaling. This is Sea Shepherd's eighth campaign against the whaling effort.

This event temporarily leaves only one Sea Shepherd boat, the Bob Barker, to attempt to stay with the whaling fleet as it bounds toward the hunting grounds. In the accompanying Sky News video report, Watson said the Steve Irwin will return to the Antarctic after its escort mission--Fremantle is about 1,500 miles from where the incident occurred--and rejoin a campaign the group calls "Operation Divine Wind."

"It's not going to stop our attempt, but it is a setback because it takes out one of our boats," Watson told the Associated Press.

Last season the whalers were forced to quit early, far short of their quota, because of Sea Shepherd's harassment efforts. This season one of the Japanese harpoon boats is carrying members of the Japan Coastguard.

Watson recently predicted that one of its vessels would be rammed or stormed this season out of "revenge.

These hunts are expensive and Japan has been criticized not only for continuing to hunt whales despite international opposition, but for funding the extra security with money earmarked for relief in the aftermath of last spring's devastating earthquake and tsunamis.

Georgia Aquarium mourns death of prized beluga whale calf

They initially became concerned when the calf was born and needed assistance from the divers to bring it to the surface to breathe

A beglua whale calf born Friday night at the Georgia Aquarium has died, despite receiving 24-hour nurturing from animal care experts at the Atlanta facility.

"This is an extremely sad day for the Georgia Aquarium family. Over the past few days, our veterinary and animal care teams have been giving around-the-clock care to Maris and her calf," Gregory Bossart, chief veterinary officer, said in a news release issued Wednesday. "We initially became concerned when the calf was born..

13 Comments

1-13 of 13

Posted by liberty first December 30, 2011 02:34pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

One less pirate for LEGAL ships going about their LEGAL business to worry about.

Reply by man in black December 30, 2011 03:20pm PSTReport Abuse

If you had ANY clue to what you were talking about and actually read the international laws pertaining to what these Japanese ships are doing then you would most certainly figure out that their agenda is not LEGAL. They go to where there is nobody to enforce the laws that are on the books so that they can bypass any enforcement. Not getting caught... or prosecuted doesn't magically make illegal acts legal.

Read into the research these whaling vessels are doing... why? Because that is the LEGAL activity they are supposedly involved in. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that they are selling the whale meat and wouldn't be hunting protected species if not for the profit. No scientific groups need thousands of large animals for research... it's just not done. And nobody in their right mind believes what these outlaws are saying.

Now they are taking money from the funds collected to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami, WOW! I suppose you think that should be legal also?

And for the record... I'm not a so-called "Left Wing Nut"... I mostly vote Republican... But I can see right or wrong and I don't let a political party dictate my common sense.

Reply by stephen minoletti December 30, 2011 03:36pm PSTReport Abuse

Liberty First-Should read screw everything as long as money is made...You obviously have no clue what the whaling issue is...Japanese whalers go harvest whales that are protected by a treaty that they signed...by using a loophole saying they are doing research...no one needs thousand of animals for research and certainly no scientist is going to sell his test subjects on the japanese market for a profit...

This is all big business and big business will strip are planet clean if given the chance...The rain forest is being cut down...the oceans fish populations are declining..Big Business will take every shortcut they can to save a dollar and make ten...they don't care about the future just how much profit they can make today..

I'm not a crazy or a left wing liberal.. I believe myself to be a independent person I believe in some issues the democrats believe in and some the republicans believe in...and the people of this planet need to wake up....because once the destruction is done it will be to late to do anything.

Stephen Minoletti
(EMT and SEA SHEPARD supporter

Reply by regulatoryheaven December 31, 2011 09:08am PSTReport Abuse

The legal taking of nine hundred minke whales is, well, legal. The people who romantically think they are the 'saviours of planet earth' are, as liberty first said, pirates. Those who support them are little better than that.

It gives me no great heartache to see that boat broken. It is good the crew wasn't lost. Rogue waves can do that. Perhaps the Japanese need small 'rogue' boats to harass the sea shepards, neh?

Reply by stevendittmar December 31, 2011 10:42pm PSTReport Abuse

then count me in as a pirate. I support them and wish sea shepherd could use torpedoes against these jap whale killers. boycott all jap products.

Reply by johnmayer December 31, 2011 11:36pm PSTReport Abuse

Thank God for these courageous "pirates," since world governmental bodies don't have the courage to do more than wring their hands and wag their fingers. Whaling commission regulations actually makes it legal for private citizens to help enforce whaling restrictions, so Sea Shepherd is doing the work of nations and confronting a rogue nation, risking their lives for no reward other than the satisfaction of saving the lives of highly intelligent beings. Tell me: of which are you, in reality, jealous: the noble Sea Shepherds or the noble whales themselves? I'm sure it wouldn't take a creature the size of a whale to dwarf your meager soul.

Reply by banks w January 3, 2012 10:50pm PSTReport Abuse

Boycott Japan!

Posted by enforcer123 December 30, 2011 05:19pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

It is beyond me why sea Sheppard did not file charges against Japan when the Japanese arrested and detained the Capitan making the citizens arrest in international waters, Capt. Paul Watson had what is called standing in all courts, he has the evidence that the Japanese ship plowed into one of his ships, he has international Law behind him, that the Japanese are hunting these animals in protected waters, he had everything he needed for a criminal complaint and all that is needed for a civil complaint and yet he fears the courts to help in enforcing the laws, with all the good Capt. Paul Watson and his crews are doing and all that we the people are donating or working for him and his crews to keep them afloat, it is beyond me that he did absolutely nothing to defend the animals in a legal forum, God Bless and keep the faith, be careful out there!
*
One more thing, being on the water for many years, I cannot see a hull cracking because a rough wave side swiped the ship, maybe someone should be waking up the crew in bad weather especially when so many people have put up as much as they did or do to find that this accident was caused by Man not for the fight, there is no excuse for it.
*
Joseph A.F. Sadowski
SEA SHEPARD supporter

Reply by youareidiots December 31, 2011 10:07am PSTReport Abuse

First, he has no standing. The vessel in question was operated purposely in an unsafe manner, creating a hazard to navigation. Second, they are not working to change the treaties because that would not further this self absorbed dickflapper's HEY! LOOK AT ME!! needs. Remember a couple years ago when this clown tried to fake being shot? Kinda makes my case does it not? Environmentalists are the only community where clowns like this keep their credibility. I like whales as much as the next guy, but until the environmental movement gets rid of the twin failures of maladjusted wackos trying to justify their failure to integrate with society and ego masturbating grand-standers, a lot of folks like me won't have anything to do with you.

Reply by skunkmilk December 31, 2011 04:50pm PSTReport Abuse

if i was the japs id sink him or kidnap and kill him just to show other assholes when they are in for who in the name of christ thinks these whales are worth anything but food for old poor people kill them all they had there day

Posted by kurmudgeon December 30, 2011 05:20pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

@man in black + minoletti: I'm with you, but don't waste your time on the likes of Liberty. There's a world of adults whose apathy, greed, ignorance and/or diminished mental capacity let Antarctic whaling continue. These folks can't, or can't be bothered to, understand the difference between real science and the wink-wink-nod-nod-say-no-more "research" being done by the Japanese, so it's pointless for you to talk to them about legal versus illegal. They're also enablers and subsidizers, either directly or indirectly, of rain forest clear-cutting for hardwoods, mass shark slaughter for fins, and rhino poaching for virility potions. They'd embrace clubbing baby seals to death, if it meant getting a fluffy white fur border on their winter coat or the dash of their pimped-out Hummer.

So face it: Many of our fellow citizens rank somewhere below Plasmodia on the environmental-awareness scale. Kudos, then, to the people who are willing to get in the face of rapers and pillagers of the natural world. It sounds like dangerous business, and I applaud them for having the courage of their convictions. Never thought I'd do this, but I'm seeking out the Sea Shepard website to see if I can make a donation. Stay legal, but stay strong!!

Reply by kurmudgeon December 30, 2011 05:28pm PSTReport Abuse

PS: It's the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (not "Shepard"), and I'm now a supporter. -k

Reply by mythoughts December 31, 2011 04:01pm PSTReport Abuse

PS-Should have said, "I'm now a bigger idiot than I was"!!

Posted by icecoldtroll December 30, 2011 05:26pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

Regardless of what the Japanese are doing, the "Sea Shepherds" are the very defintion of TERRORISM. Yes, it's almost a punch line these days to toss around the "T" word, but these people, by their own words and actions, have declared themselves such.

Paul Watson, Founder and President:

The fact is that we live in an extremely violent culture, and we all justify violence if it's for what we believe in.
We should never feel like we're going too far in breaking the law, because whatever laws you break to liberate animals or to protect the environment are very insignificant...
There's nothing wrong with being a terrorist, as long as you win.

Alex Pacheco, Advisory Board Member:

Damaging the enemy financially is fair game.
Arson, property destruction, burglary, and theft are 'acceptable crimes' when used for the animal cause.

Joshua Harper, Former crew member:

It's appropriate to go out and burn down the factory farm.
[I see] a spark of hope in every broken window, every torched police car.

Rodney Coronado, Former crew member

I love fire, be it around a campfire with friends or when consuming an empty fur farm, animal laboratory or luxury condominium built on the homes of my animal relations.
I think [food producers] should appreciate that we're only targeting their property. Because frankly I think it's time to start targeting them.

http://www.animalscam.com/index.cfm

And, no, I'm not in the pay of the Koch Bros., "Big Oil," or even "Big Whaling."
I just hate pathetic, cowardly little terrorist cckksuckers.

Reply by icecoldtroll December 30, 2011 05:30pm PSTReport Abuse

ps: http://activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/o/347-sea-shepherd-conservation-society

"Watson also controls two covert groups under the SSCS umbrella. He established the Oceanic Research and Conservation Action Force (O.R.C.A. FORCE) with his ex-wife Lisa DiStefano (a former Playboy model). This shadowy undercover group damages and destroys ships at dock. Their agents have scuttled ships in Taiwan and Norway."

Reply by youareidiots December 31, 2011 10:10am PSTReport Abuse

And this is exactly the problem, any normal human who looks into who these clowns really are quickly realizes that they are, as I said above , maladjusted wackos.

Posted by snailer December 30, 2011 05:49pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

Whale sushi tastes good. Sort of like Chicken of the Sea.

Posted by god knows December 30, 2011 06:25pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

When all the greedy nations of the earth have eaten all the fish and made a fortune will they resort to feasting on their neighbors? Then there will be no need to have the Shepherds of the sea harass anyone, there will be a very still peace on Earth. All the money on the Planet will not be enough to replace the natural world which we squandered.

Posted by bostonjohn December 30, 2011 08:00pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

I think that if enough people would boycott all Japanese automobiles it shouldn't take long for them to stop whaling.

Reply by youareidiots December 31, 2011 09:51am PSTReport Abuse

Wow you are an idiot

Reply by banks w January 3, 2012 10:51pm PSTReport Abuse

Boycott all Japanese products and services! Vote with your dollars!

Posted by banks w December 31, 2011 06:25am PSTReply | Report Abuse

I feel terrible for the victims of Fukushima (a disaster caused by Japanese incompetence as much as by Mother Nature's wrath). However, I did not donate one cent to the Fukushima clean-up efforts, because of the whaling issue. Let Japan pay for its own clean-up, and quit supporting the killing of whales! When Japan finally quits killing whales, I might call off my own boycott of all Japanese products and services! Surrender Japan and join the 21st Century! You have lost!

Reply by mauler707 December 31, 2011 08:29am PSTReport Abuse

right. It's ok for humans to die, just not whales. who made the computer your typing on, or your cell phone. even if it has an american name on it the parts are made in Japan. so your boycott is just for stuff that doesn't inconvenience you? and their economy is way better than ours, they have far from lost... lol

Reply by banks w January 3, 2012 10:48pm PSTReport Abuse

@mauler707: Why don't you move to Japan? My point was that the Japanese should be looking after their own people, not killing intelligent, endangered animals! I also boycott other whale-killing countries like Norway, in case you think I was being hypocritical.

Buy American and vote with your dollars, people!

Reply by mauler707 January 5, 2012 03:56pm PSTReport Abuse

the way this country is going i just might. the years I spent there in the Navy were some of the best of my life.

Posted by dave49 December 31, 2011 06:48am PSTReply | Report Abuse

".....using a lethal research loophole in a long-standing international moratorium against commercial whaling....."

Who thinks this "loophole" is there by accident?

Reply by youareidiots December 31, 2011 10:14am PSTReport Abuse

Well then, dump the "HEY LOOK AT ME" ego stroking wack jobs, and get busy working with the international governing bodies to change the treaties......Oh wait, that won't get you your own tv shows, big donations (I'm sure EVERY penny goes to the whales) and the overwhelming high provided by ego masturbation.

Posted by zebra December 31, 2011 06:49am PSTReply | Report Abuse

The fact that the whale hunting consortium uses the excuse of "research" to be their shield against international laws and treaties against killing mammals is reprehensible.. I watched a couple of episodes of Whale Wars and the dedication of the activists trying to draw attention to this practice and hopefully outlaw it worldwide is enlightening, especially when some of them jump into an open Zodiac type boat in the cold, harsh southern oceans and take off after the whaling ships because the whaling ships are faster than the environmentalists' ships.. that's dedication. Hopefully one day the Japanese will realize the folly and cruelty of hunting endangered mammals that have been proven to be intelligent, thinking beings and that are no longer needed to be in our food chain or used for oil for lamps and other uses. Perhaps a hunt using 1800's technology on a very limited basis could be allowed to actually get a whale for true research once commercial harvesting is outlawed internationally and strict penalties including incarceration and fines for all involved in this practice is implemented.

Posted by mauler707 December 31, 2011 08:10am PSTReply | Report Abuse

Seriously? I am so tired of listening to all you bleeding hearts blather on about the poor animals, oh the poor whales. everybody and everything needs our help! Jesus, your the same group that hangs out at occupy rallies screaming about how evil capitalism is as you enjoy all the freedoms that is created. I can't wait to hear the responses to this. telling me how cruel this is and how everyone and everything is suffering. lol. life is tough people get over it. you all cry over the cute animals but the ugly ones, like rats and possums. they don't matter. You protest when humans kill an animal, but when a Lion kills a gazelle on National Geographic then it's interesting and educational. I know your lives are so empty that you have to find something to make yourself feel better about yourself, like saving whales and the endangered staring frog of Sri Lanka, but please at some point step into reality at some point. Thank you all for keeping me entertained and amused however. I'm sure there is a tree some where that needs a hug, so I leave you to it. As you sit behind your apple computer drinking your Starbucks coffee texting on your iPhone enjoying the highest standard of living in the world. commenting on how bad everything is of course. Peace my brothers and sisters.

Reply by tarbaby December 31, 2011 10:15am PSTReport Abuse

stop hugging trees and hug a child. the way you think, our planet wont be here for long, neither will our children. hello, no planet , no nobody. we need to stop all poaching, pollutions, and the cutting down of the rain forest. you need to be educated about our planet. the items were living with and enjoying are nothing when there is no planet to enjoy then on. our planet should be on the endangered list because of people like you. you should pray that "your" world ends before "ours". maybe "we" or our children can correct what "you" and "others" have messed up. God bless us, and i hope God shows mercy on us after the chaos we created among us and on his planet.

Reply by bigpicture December 31, 2011 10:49am PSTReport Abuse

mauler707- I suggest you sit down and ask yourself what you have accomplished here on earth. Then ask yourself why you choose to belittle anyone who aspires to a noble cause. To be clear, anyone who has a dedication to a balanced healthy environment is thinking in a more noble fashion than you seem comfortable with. The condition of the earth is not healthy at this time, due in a large part to the rationalizing shortsightedness of people who resemble you. In addition, if you truly desired "peace my brothers and sisters", you would let your actions follow those words. When people express a concern for something as critical as the balance of our environment, better to keep silent than to bandy about with words signifying little. Remember, just because individuals cannot effect large changes by themselves does not mean that their concerns have no merit. ANYONE can criticize. It takes a good deal more in character and energy to work for the greater good.

Reply by the3walcks January 5, 2012 09:56am PSTReport Abuse

The animals are the world. Without them, there will be no us. I can say that I know I make a difference and I have a life thank you. I don't have an i phone or drink starbucks either. I save animals everyday from abuse. I volunteer with my local humane officers and rescue animals all the time. Every time we save an anmal and put people like you behind bars is a win by me. It is one less scum bag out of society and an innocent animal saved. People like you are the problem in our country today. Well all around the world actually. Japan and China are both horrific places. Both need to be stopped. They not only kill whales but they kill thousands of dolphins every year, they skin thousands if not millions of dogs and cats alive to make fake fuax fur for the world. They put plastic additives in our dog food and killed millions of our pets just to get money off of us, put the same swtuff in HUMAN baby formula and killed babies everywhere. They put lead and cadium in our kids jewlery and in our dinner ware to poison us too! And you are going to stick up for them. Sorry no and again, I know I make a difference in the world and did something good with my life. How about you?? What have you done?

Reply by mauler707 January 5, 2012 03:52pm PSTReport Abuse

lol... who said I abuse animals? I applaud you for helping out and being selfless. you seem to be living life by your beliefs, but most don't. but lets make something clear. animals for the most part are a food source just like anything else. a lion would have no problem making you his food source if he could, so I don't blame them for eating animals either, weather it be dog or cat.

Reply by mauler707 February 2, 2012 05:03pm PSTReport Abuse

Oh yeah what Have I done? 20 years in the United States Navy serving my country, but thanks for assuming I'm a scumbag.

Posted by bruce_williamson December 31, 2011 08:10am PSTReply | Report Abuse

Aside from the ethics and folly of hunting and endangered species, the presence of military personnel on a civilian vessel makes it a warship.

Reply by youareidiots December 31, 2011 10:16am PSTReport Abuse

Warships fight pirates, what's your point??

Posted by josephhill1 December 31, 2011 10:29am PSTReply | Report Abuse

Interfering with Commerce is a far lesser "crime" than the slaughter of these intelligent and sentient creatures.....under FALSE pretenses! Research?....indeed! ALL who are enablers or beneficiaries of this illegal--and loathsome!--activity should be held accountable; with especial attention being given to those parties of the original treaty who now 'look the other way' to what the Japanese whalers--and others--are doing.

I am very much moved by the courage and integrity of ALL who are involved in this defense of not only the whales themselves, but also the LAW that was supposed to protect them. I particularly salute the young man who, on one occasion last season, insisted upon boarding the Japanese ship to personally ARREST its captain. There was already a history of serious hostilities between the two sides, to a point where there was no way of knowing what might happen when the young man was on Japanese "turf". Nevertheless, he did it....because he COULDN'T "look the other way". BRAVO to him....his courage brought tears to my eyes; and I would hope that his sense of Justice "catches on"...around the world.

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