The Greenpeace ship Esperanza sails into Sydney Harbour from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. After 42 days at sea, part of which was spent assisting the fire-disabled whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru and then escorting the entire whaling fleet out of Antarctic waters, the Esperanza will spend only 48 hours in Sydney and then sail directly to Japan, to call for the Nisshin Maru to be decommissioned before the next whaling season begins.
The Greenpeace ship Esperanza sails into Sydney Harbour from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. After 42 days at sea, part of which was spent assisting the fire-disabled whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru and then escorting the entire whaling fleet out of Antarctic waters, the Esperanza will spend only 48 hours in Sydney and then sail directly to Japan, to call for the Nisshin Maru to be decommissioned before the next whaling season begins.
The Greenpeace ship Esperanza sails into Sydney Harbour from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. After 42 days at sea, part of which was spent assisting the fire-disabled whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru and then escorting the entire whaling fleet out of Antarctic waters, the Esperanza will spend only 48 hours in Sydney and then sail directly to Japan, to call for the Nisshin Maru to be decommissioned before the next whaling season begins.
The Greenpeace ship Esperanza sails into Sydney Harbour from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. After 42 days at sea, part of which was spent assisting the fire-disabled whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru and then escorting the entire whaling fleet out of Antarctic waters, the Esperanza will spend only 48 hours in Sydney and then sail directly to Japan, to call for the Nisshin Maru to be decommissioned before the next whaling season begins.
The crew of the Esperanza spent over a week on stand by to
assist the fire-disabled whaling factory ship, Nisshin Maru in the
Ross Sea in Antarctica last month, to ensure the safety of the
vessel and its crew as well as witness any possible environmental
impacts from the fire. The Greenpeace ship then escorted the entire
whaling fleet out of Antarctic waters. The whalers this year killed
505 minke whales and three fin whales - well short of their target
of 945 whales.
The whole incident has generated a new debate in Japan, which is
why Greenpeace has decided to send the ship there.
"While the Esperanza was with the disabled fleet we generated a
level of debate on this issue in Japan that has been unprecedented,
questioning the validity of the government whaling programme.
However, it has become obvious that the Japanese government wants
to give the incident as low a profile as possible," says Junichi
Sato, Greenpeace Japan whales campaign coordinator.
This year's incident is the second time the Nisshin Maru had a
fire on board in the last nine years. The cause of the blaze has
not been disclosed, despite the fact that it resulted in the death
of one of the crew.
"During the emergency with the Nisshin Maru, our crew began a
positive, ship to ship dialogue with the whaling fleet in the
Southern Ocean. We plan to continue and broaden that dialogue from
ship to shore when the Esperanza comes to Japan." Sato added.
Greenpeace Japan plans to invite representatives of the
Fisheries Agency of Japan and the Institute for Cetacean Research
on board the Esperanza when she arrives in Tokyo. Greenpeace will
continue the dialogue begun with the Japanese public this year
through interactive websites like the Whale Love Wagon
http://whalelove.jp.
Greenpeace held a press conference at the ship in Sydney this
morning, with Labour shadow Environment Minister Peter Garrett and
Expedition Leader and New Zealander Karli Thomas.
"The key to stopping whaling on the high seas is the Japanese
Government," said Thomas.
"What we saw in the Southern Ocean should be a clear signal to
the government and people of Japan that this must be the last
season that a whaling fleet goes to the Southern Ocean Whale
Sanctuary."
It is reported that the Japanese Government intends to repair
the Nisshin Maru and go back to whaling in the Antarctic in nine
months' time. The plans include increasing the number of endangered
fin whales from to 50 and to add 50 threatened humpback whales to
the quota of 935 minke whales for the Southern Ocean.
Other contacts: Cindy Baxter in New Zealand: 021 772 661
Sara Holden, Greenpeace International Communications, on board the Esperanza: + 872 324 469 014 (satellite phone)
Junichi Sato: Greenpeace Japan, in Tokyo: + 81 90 7713 7301
VVPR info: Video available for download: call Nick Young on +64 21 707 727
Exp. contact date: 2007-03-09 00:00:00