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Activists, Japanese fire water cannons
Source: Agencies |
February 10, 2010, Wednesday
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ACTIVISTS vowing to stop the killing of whales exchanged water-cannon fire with a Japanese whaling fleet they are tailing in the Antarctic Ocean.
The Sea Shepherd conservation group said its ships, the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker, confronted the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru early on Monday.
"The factory ship turned on their water cannons and were surprised when the Steve Irwin responded with a more powerful water cannon that had a couple of the whalers diving for the bridge doors," said a statement from the group.
Japanese Fisheries Agency official Shigeki Takaya condemned the use of water cannons. "As we have always said, we condemn the act. It is totally unforgivable," he said.
A Japanese foreign ministry official said Japan lodged a protest with the Netherlands and Togo over the water cannon fire in the Antarctic Ocean - the countries where the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker are registered.
"We asked the respective governments to stop the ships from obstructing our whaling activities," the official said.
Sea Shepherd, a United States-based activist group, sends vessels to confront the Japanese fleet each year. Two major clashes have already occurred this year, one a collision that destroyed a Sea Shepherd vessel.
Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said his activists had prevented the whalers from catching any whales since Saturday. "We intend to turn these three whaling-free days into three whaling-free weeks," he said.
The Sea Shepherd conservation group said its ships, the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker, confronted the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru early on Monday.
"The factory ship turned on their water cannons and were surprised when the Steve Irwin responded with a more powerful water cannon that had a couple of the whalers diving for the bridge doors," said a statement from the group.
Japanese Fisheries Agency official Shigeki Takaya condemned the use of water cannons. "As we have always said, we condemn the act. It is totally unforgivable," he said.
A Japanese foreign ministry official said Japan lodged a protest with the Netherlands and Togo over the water cannon fire in the Antarctic Ocean - the countries where the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker are registered.
"We asked the respective governments to stop the ships from obstructing our whaling activities," the official said.
Sea Shepherd, a United States-based activist group, sends vessels to confront the Japanese fleet each year. Two major clashes have already occurred this year, one a collision that destroyed a Sea Shepherd vessel.
Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said his activists had prevented the whalers from catching any whales since Saturday. "We intend to turn these three whaling-free days into three whaling-free weeks," he said.
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