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Greenpeace Japan campaigner Sakyo Noda conveys a radio message as the Esperanza disengages from the Japanese government whaling fleet due to low fuel reserves in the Southern Ocean.
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In a dramatic 4300 nautical mile chase through Antarctic waters, the Esperanza spent fourteen days chasing the whaling fleet's factory ship, the Nisshin Maru. Without the factory ship, the remaining hunter vessels have been unable to operate - bringing the entire whaling programme to a halt.
"We’ve calculated that the fleet needed to catch approximately nine minke whales each day and an endangered fin whale every other day in order to reach their self-imposed quota of nearly 1,000 whales. That makes more than 120 whales that are swimming free because we’ve cut the fleet’s hunting time by 2 weeks,” said expedition leader Karli Thomas.
Before departing, Greenpeace Japan campaigner Sakyo Noda radioed the Nisshin Maru in Japanese and English, saying:
"We believe that you are under orders from Tokyo not to allow anyone to witness your fake science programme. Each of you on board your ship must ask yourself why, if there is nothing wrong with your science programme, do you need to hide from public scrutiny and run away from legitimate peaceful protest?"
The Australian government ship Oceanic Viking is still tracking the fleet.
“It’s now up to the Australian government to keep watch on the whaling fleet for as long as possible, preferably as long as it remains in the Southern Ocean,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific whales campaigner Rob Nicolls.
“During his visit to Tokyo next week, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith must gain confirmation that the Japanese government will not build a new whaling factory ship to replace the aging Nisshin Maru. A new and larger factory ship would commit Japan to whaling for another 40 years.”
The campaign to end whaling does not stop here. Greenpeace is working hard to translate our actions on the high seas into action in Japan.
You can help ensure our message is heard in Japan:
"We’ve calculated that the fleet needed to catch approximately nine minke whales each day and an endangered fin whale every other day in order to reach their self-imposed quota of nearly 1,000 whales. That makes more than 120 whales that are swimming free because we’ve cut the fleet’s hunting time by 2 weeks,” said expedition leader Karli Thomas.
Before departing, Greenpeace Japan campaigner Sakyo Noda radioed the Nisshin Maru in Japanese and English, saying:
"We believe that you are under orders from Tokyo not to allow anyone to witness your fake science programme. Each of you on board your ship must ask yourself why, if there is nothing wrong with your science programme, do you need to hide from public scrutiny and run away from legitimate peaceful protest?"
The Australian government ship Oceanic Viking is still tracking the fleet.
“It’s now up to the Australian government to keep watch on the whaling fleet for as long as possible, preferably as long as it remains in the Southern Ocean,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific whales campaigner Rob Nicolls.
“During his visit to Tokyo next week, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith must gain confirmation that the Japanese government will not build a new whaling factory ship to replace the aging Nisshin Maru. A new and larger factory ship would commit Japan to whaling for another 40 years.”
The campaign to end whaling does not stop here. Greenpeace is working hard to translate our actions on the high seas into action in Japan.
You can help ensure our message is heard in Japan:
TAKE ACTION: Sign our petition to the Democratic Party of Japan.
