Shonan Maru #2 is the one that ran over the Ady Gil.

and it was the one involved in the collision with the Adny Gil. It is not a state vessel of the nation of Japan

The whalers gave it to the Japanese government, which now operates it as a security vessel and keeps security forces on it to "defend" the whaling fleet. It's been repainted and is clearly marked as a government ship.

Shonan Maru #2 a few years ago:


Shonan Maru #2 now:

Thank you

didn't fall victim to the tsunami.

against the barbaric practises which should have died out long ago, as the human race evolved.

Hope Japan run out of killers before the earth runs out of the amazing innocent, intelligent, helpless, gentle prey.

But it can be denied in territorial waters.

But sensible people would say otherwise.

Basically it says, as long as you are just passing through, nothing can be done.

The cookie pushers will make noise for the benefit of the home crowd but nothing will happen. The Japanese ship stayed clear of the 12 mile limit.

Is not interested in pissing off Japan, despite the Australian public's disgust at whaling. Short of getting serious over the issue, making a bit of noise is all they'll do.

However, there's now a national election scheduled for September, and some clever Aussie pol might grab ahold of the issue and ride it to the polls.

Either Abbot or a member of her own party, bullying Gillard into sending some seagoing muscle down to harass the Japanese.

Or, alternatively, Gillard or Abbot rattling sabers, exciting the electorate, and hence winning the next election.

Hmm. Not good
***
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is weighing up its legal options after a United States court decision which limits its anti-whaling activities in the Southern Ocean.

The society says an appeals court in the United States has issued an injunction in favour of Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research.

The court has ordered the whale conservationists to stay at least 450 metres away from the Japanese fleet and not to physically confront them.
---
International law expert Don Rothwell, from the Australian National University, believes the injunction can not be enforced in international waters.

"It's only an order that would be subject to enforcement by US courts but, most importantly, because Sea Shepherd is incorporated in the US state of Washington Sea Shepherd could be could be held in contempt of court and could be subject to other proceedings if Sea Shepherd fails to abide by the order of the US court."

He believes the order could affect the group's fund-raising activities.

"The Japanese would have taken this approach primarily to secure an order against the heart of Sea Shepherd's corporate and fundraising activities in the United States. So it's really seeking to target the corporate and financial activities of Sea Shepherd."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-19/sea-shepherd-told-to-steer-clear-of-japanese-whalers/4435216

There are parts of SSCS not incorporated in the US as well. This is one of many good reasons not to incorporate solely in the US if you want to do what Watson does.

There are smart lawyers on this and they can figure it out. Don Rothwell does not qualify since he seems unaware that long arm jurisdiction is allowed in the US. (You can be prosecuted for things you do out of the US in the US)

Incorporation is a requirement for an organization its size and with that kind of budget

Whaling will stop when demand stops and not until then.

Regardless of apologies.

a good thing IMO.

Industrial nation whaling will not stop until demand does. Today it is fading along generational lines. Aboriginal never will.

The real risk is if there are enough other species failures, whale hunting for food may increase

Not that I don't put it past plain human dumbassedness to do exactly that, but...

New England fisheries and being massively cut back, others are as well. Poachers are still taking more than the fish populations can support. It is foreseeable that some nations could return to whaling for food, though some argue the costs would outweigh benefits. I have not looked into it.

Without that, its pretty clear that demand will die out in a generation from industrial nations. Also remember that Japan is not the only nation doing it.

Aboriginal whaling is so small that it scarcely matters from a numbers standpoint.

I agree, and I'd not expect Aboriginal demand to ever decrease. I have little issue with that.

pee up a rope. Good luck enforcing. After a catastrophic natural and manmade disaster and they cant wait to get back to despoiling all of our natural resources.