Japanese Call Off Whaling Due to Ship Fire

Japanese Call Off Whaling Due to Ship Fire



March 2007 - The Institute of Cetacean 
Research, in conjunction with Kyodo Senpaku and the government 
of Japan, said Wednesday that the Antarctic whale "research 
program" for the 2006/2007 austral summer season will be cut 
short as a result of a fire aboard the whaling vessel, the 
Nisshin Maru. 
Kyodo Senpaku operates the vessels used by the Institute of 
Cetacean Research, ICR, to carry out its whaling programs. The 
target this season was up to 935 minke whales and 10 
endangered fin whales. The ICR has not released figures on the 
number of whales actually taken. 
The Institute's Director General, Dr. Hiroshi Hatanaka said 
that after completing a thorough assessment of the Nisshin 
Maru following the February 15 fire, it was concluded that 
some of research equipment could not be recovered, and the ICR 
"could not responsibly pursue the research activities as 
originally planned." 
The Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru in the Ross Sea after 
the fire, accompanied by the smaller Yushin maru No.2. 
February 16, 2007. 
After the fire broke out, 126 people were evacuated from the 
vessel, leaving a crew of 30 who extinguished the fire. First 
they repaired the electrical system and then restarted the 
ship's main engine. 
“Far from an embarrassment, the situation in the Antarctic was 
an unfortunate event that no one could have predicted," Dr. 
Hatanaka said. "Our thanks go out to the crew who are very 
able seamen and responded in a professional and responsible 
manner to the fire and subsequent repairs to the vessel." 
"While full power was restored, a more detailed inspection 
over the last few days shows that the Nisshin Maru is unable 
to be fully repaired at sea," Dr. Hatanaka said. 
"The repository, where much of the equipment and tools used 
for biological research are stored, was heavily damaged, which 
will not allow for the program to continue in the Antarctic 
for this summer," he said. 
Upon returning to Japan, the Nisshin Maru will undergo 
inspection to investigate the cause of the fire, after which 
it will enter dock for a thorough refurbishment and 
preparation for whaling in the western North Pacific later 
this year. 
Dr. Hatanaka said that Japan’s Program in the Antarctic is a 
long-term research program and will resume in December. 
In a letter of protest issued Wednesday, the Institute and 
Kyodo Senpaku condemned the actions of the Sea Shepherd 
Conservation Society from February 8 through 14 in the 
Southern Ocean. 
"They are inexcusable criminal acts that go against the 
practices of good seamanship. What is more, they are spiteful 
and mindless terrorism perpetrated in disregard of human 
life," the Japanese organizations said. 
Sea Shepherd crew in a small inflatable boat throw smoke bombs 
onto the Japanese whaler Kaiko Maru. February 12, 2007. 
"Sea Shepherd resorted to throwing a large number of smoke 
bombs and bottles containing a harmful chemical substance on 
the decks of the mother ship Nisshin Maru and the non-lethal 
research dedicated sighting vessel Kaiko Maru, resulting in 
two injured crewmen," the letter said. 
At the time, Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson said, "The Sea 
Shepherd crew has successfully delivered six liters of butyric 
acid onto the flensing deck of the Nisshin Maru. This 'butter 
acid' is a nontoxic obnoxious smelling substance. The foul 
smell has cleared the flensing deck and stopped all work of 
cutting up whales." 
Butyric acid is listed by several university chemical 
departments as a corrosive substance that is harmful if 
swallowed or inhaled. The extremely unpleasant smell may cause 
nausea and the liquid may burn skin and eyes. It is readily 
absorbed through the skin and is a severe skin, eye and 
respiratory irritant. 
"Sea Shepherd malicious attempts against the research vessels 
also included releasing ropes and nets to entangle their 
screw. Furthermore," said the letter, "the two Sea Shepherd 
vessels came to either side of the nonresistant Kaiko Maru 
stopping her from continuing sailing and rammed her three 
times, causing big damage to her hull." 
The Sea Shepherd ship Robert Hunter, left, and the Japanese 
whaler Kaiko Maru collide in the Southern Ocean. February 12, 
2007. 
From Melbourne, Australia, where the two Sea Shepherd ships - 
Robert Hunter and Farley Mowat - have been berthed since 
February 22, Captain Watson said, "The Australian Federal 
police, at our request, conducted a forensic examination of 
the damage on the Robert Hunter. Their inspection lasted a 
full day. We are confident that the evidence will support our 
claim that it was the Japanese whaler Kaiko Maru that 
deliberately rammed the Robert Hunter." 
"The fact is," Watson said, "that when we ram an illegal 
whaling ship, we proudly accept credit for our actions." 
The ICR claims that Japan’s "whale research" is "perfectly 
legal" because it is carried out "under a special permit 
issued by the government of Japan pursuant to the 
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling." 
In their letter, the ICR and Kyodo Senpaku called the Sea 
Shepherd a "terrorist organization" and appealed to the 
international community "to refrain from providing support in 
any form, including their granting of ship nationality..." 
Captain Watson said the arrival of the Sea Shepherd ships was 
not a problem for Australia. "Despite not having a flag of 
registry, the Farley Mowat was not hassled and was processed 
into the country without detention or detainment," he said. 
Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson responds to media questions 
in Melbourne, Australia. February 24, 2007. 
Watson is exploring the possibility of keeping the Farley 
Mowat in Melbourne permanently as a Southern Oceans Whale 
Sanctuary Information Centre and Museum. 
"Keeping her in service to the whales is a fitting 
retirement," Watson said. After 10 years of high seas 
campaigns, the Farley Mowat is getting old, and spare parts 
are hard to find. 
Watson intends to keep both ships in Melbourne for the next 
few months to secure new registration and to repair damages 
caused during the campaign. 
Sea Shepherd will then do a tour of Australian ports before 
returning to the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary at the end of this 
year. Undeterred by the Japanese protest letter, Watson says 
he will "once again intervene to protect endangered whales 
from the illegal poaching by the Japanese whalers." 





 

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