The Bob Barker Engages Poachers in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

Delta team trying to slow the Yushin Maru No. 2 as it fires its water cannons at the exposed crewThe Southern Ocean - Accusations from the Japanese hunter killer boat the Yushin Maru No. 2 that crewmembers from the Bob Barker threw “flash bang” grenades at their vessel are entirely false. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society does not have possession of flash bang grenades nor have we ever had possession of such weapons. “Activists started hand-throwing at least two flash bangs and one smoke bomb toward the YS2.” 

Flash bang grenades were actually used by the Japanese Coast Guard in 2008 against Sea Shepherd crewmembers but Sea Shepherd has not, and will not deploy these dangerous weapons in retaliation. However, Sea Shepherd crewmembers did deploy stink bombs and smoke bombs during this engagement. The object of this exercise was to attempt to throw the Yushin Maru No. 2 off the tail of the Bob Barker. Sea Shepherd views the constant tailing of their vessels as a provocation to deter the Japanese whalers.

As long as the harpooners continue tailing the Bob Barker and the Steve Irwin, they will prevent Sea Shepherd from closing in on the Nisshin Maru, however, in doing so Sea Shepherd will continue to keep these two vessels from whaling themselves. The fast interceptor vessel the Gojiracontinues to pursue its tracking of the Nisshin Maru westward.

The Delta team catches up with the Japanese harpoon vessel the Yushin Maru No. 2 amidst fierce seasThe exercise to attempt to throw the Yushin Maru No. 2off the tail of the Bob Barker was initially successful. Unfortunately, the small Zodiac boats that initially slowed the Yushin Maru No. 2, had to cover 80 miles of open sea in order to return back to the Bob Barker, resulting in damage to one of them due to the heavy seas. The Bob Barker was forced to return to pick up their crew and ensure their safety. This delay allowed the Yushin Maru No. 2 to locate the Bob Barker once again.

The Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) stated that one of the Bob Barker’s small boats became entangled in their own prop fouling line and therefore became disabled. This statement is untrue. The inflatable boat became disabled after the confrontation with the Japanese whaling vessel, and solely due to damage to the pontoon from prolonged pounding against heavy seas.

“Our boat crew’s courage is amazing,” said Captain Paul Watson from the Steve Irwin. “They bravely put a great distance between themselves and the Bob Barker in this exercise, thereby exposing themselves to freezing temperatures in the open boats for many hours, in waters littered with growlers and small icebergs.”

As usual, the ICR described the confrontation as an “attack” but noted that no damage was inflicted to the Yushin Maru No. 2 and there were no injuries on either side.

Today marks the eleventh day since Sea Shepherd successfully located the Japanese whaling fleet before they could begin whaling. During this time, the Yushin Maru No. 2 and Yushin Maru No. 3have been unable to fire single harpoon. The Yushin Maru No. 1 is presumably with the Nisshin Maru fleeing westward. A fishing vessel sighted them on January 9^th relaying their position to Sea Shepherd. Considering the distance the Yushin Maru has covered during the last eleven days, the speed at which they are traveling, and the fact they only have one harpoon vessel with them, the chances of them whaling are low, and if any whaling has taken place, it will be minimal.

While running at full speed whaling is inefficient. Whaling with only one harpoon vessel is inefficient. Whaling with three conservation vessels on your ass is also inefficient.

There are still two months remaining, and Sea Shepherd will maintain their pursuit of the Japanese whalers until the end of the whaling season to ensure the maximum number of whales will be saved.

ICR MEDIA RELEASE
January 9, 2011

Bob Barker activists attack Japanese research vessel Yushin Maru No. 2 The Yushin Maru No. 2 (YS2), a Japanese Antarctic whale research vessel was subjected to attack today by the Netherlands-registered vessel Bob Barker (BB). The attack started at about 1800JST and lasted until about1840JST

At about 1800JST two zodiac boats sent from the Bob Barker rapidly approached the Japanese vessel and the activists started hand-throwing at least two flash bangs and one smoke bomb toward the YS2. One of the flash bangs landed in the bow and the other two projectiles got entangled on the port-side protecting net of the Japanese vessel.

Also, the activists put a hook and rope on the port-side handrail (where the protecting net is fixed) of the YS2. In addition, the zodiac activists deployed and dragged ropes aiming to entangle the propeller and
rudder of the YS2. At about 1840JST one of the ropes being dragged by one of the zodiac boats
entangled its own propeller and the zodiac became unnavigable. Seeing this, the other zodiac activists ceased their attack on the Japanese vessel.

During the attack the Yushin Maru No. 2 broadcasted a warning message and made use of its water jet-pump as a preventive measure to make the activists desist from further approaching. The hook and rope attached by the activists to the YS2 handrail detached itself falling to the sea.

The flash bang and the smoke bomb that got entangled to the port-side protecting net were burning for a while but fortunately the fire did not spread to the net itself. Neither injuries to the Japanese crew nor
damage to the YS2 resulted from the activists’ attack.

Japan’s research whaling in the Antarctic (JARPAII) is a perfectly legal activity carried out under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). The Institute of Cetacean Research strongly condemns the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and its continued dangerous and violent actions against Japan’s whale research vessels in the Antarctic. We call on all related countries including the Netherlands which is the Bob Barker flag state and Australia, the virtual home port of the SS vessels, to stop condoning the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society violent actions and to take every means available to restrain them. Further, we strongly request that these countries deal with the SSCS criminal actions in a strict and objective manner according to their international obligations.

Sea Shepherd Delta team taking a beating from the Southern Ocean

Operation  No Compromise