The Whale Wars: 5 Things You Missed
The skirmishes between Japanese whalers and Paul Watson ramped up over the weekend with accusations that water cannons we're fired and concussion grenades we're launched between boats. Japan plans to hunt about 900 whales in 2009 as part of its scientific whaling program. Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have vowed to stop them, arguing that Japan is breaking the rules of the 1986 global moratorium on commercial whaling. Just in case you missed the drama, here's the latest news from the whale wars.
1. Iceland plans to increase it's whale hunt. On Friday, reports were filed that the country's outgoing Fisheries Minister has issued a whaling quota for 150 fin whales and 100 minke whales a year, to run from 2009 until 2013.
2. "Iceland has spat in the face of marine conservationists around the world with their extremist announcement that they wish to slaughter 150 endangered fin whales and 100 minke whales this year," the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's Paul Watson said in a L.A. Times blog.
3. Yesterday, reports came in that the Sea Shepherd Society is within seven miles of three Japanese whaling vessels, raising the chance for an open-sea battle.
4. Soon after, the Sea Shepherd's boat caught up with the whalers and a battle ensued. The crew claimed the whalers used sound guns to disorient and harm them.
5. Today, the AP filed a report that the Sea Shepherd boat hurled rancid butter and paint at the Japanese whaling vessel and that the Japanese vessel fired back with water cannons and possibly metal balls.
--Ivan Miller
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