Australian Government Refuses to release Whale Slaughter Photos

On January 15 in a case brought by Humane Society International, the Federal Court of Australia found that hunting whales in the Australian Antarctic Territory whale Sanctuary is illegal under Australian law. Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd (KSK), the company that operates the whaling fleet for the Japanese Government controlled Institute for Cetecean Research, was served Australian Court orders on January 23 to stop whaling in the Australian Whale Sanctuary, part of the larger Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Photographs, videos and positional data from the Oceanic Viking could be presented by Humane Society International to the Federal Court for Contempt of Court proceedings against Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd (KSK), the whaling fleet operator. With the Australian Government refusing to release this evidence Humane Society International will need to wait till June when the Japanese Government presents a “cruise report” to the International Whaling Comission detailing all the gruesome statistics of their whale hunt, including the location of each whale killed.

HSI expressed extreme disappointment about the Government's decision, but expressed support for the Australian Government intention of launching an international court case against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary. Nicola Beynon, HSI’s Wildlife and Habitats Program Manager said “We urge the Rudd Government to commence proceedings against the Japanese Government in the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea immediately,”

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is presently docked in Hobart and is not intending to return to the Southern Ocean this season, even though there is another 2 months of the whaling season. Greenpeace have said that they need to concentrate on the campaign in Japan

Sea Shepherd docked in Melbourne on Saturday, have said they will refuel then return to the Southern Ocean in an attempt to locate the whaling fleet and disrupt and harass the whalers. Captain Paul Watson from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has said that Greenpeace should Refuel and Return to Stop Whaling. He has accused Greenpeace of being a fraud and of Cashing in on the Suffering and Death of the Great Whales.

Sea Shepherd is intending to bring two ships to chase the whalers next season, staggering their refueling to maximise their disruption to whaling. However, the Farley Mowat does not have the speed to keep pace with the whaling fleet. Sea Shepherd may be looking at substantial fundraising to purchase another vessel capable of chasing the whaling fleet along with the Steve Irwin.