Smallscreen News

Whale Wars Capt. Paul Watson gives updates, Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign and more

By April MacIntyre Jul 2, 2011, 16:18 GMT

Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, poses at the helm of the \'Steve Irwin\' in the port of Barcelona, Spain, 19 June 2011, to promote the society\'s campaign against bluefin tuna poaching in the Mediterranean. EPA/ALBERT OLIVE

Captain Paul Watson has sent Monsters and Critics an update email on the doings of the Steve Irwin and other ships at sea:

"Our crews aboard the Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot successfully carried out Operation Blue Rage during the month of June in the Mediterranean and are now en route to the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in the Isle of Jersey. After the IWC meeting, our ships are bound for the North Atlantic to defend pilot whales from the cetacean killers of the Danish Faeroe Islands," says Watson, star of Animal Planet's "Whale Wars."

"In other areas of the world, we are continually defending and protecting sharks, dolphins, seals, and whales with great success. But there is little time to celebrate our achievements. There is still so much work to do. It is said that when good people do nothing, bad people prosper. We cannot afford to let that happen."

UPDATES from Watson:

Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign 2011-2012:
Operation Divine Wind: The Bob Barker chasing the Nisshin MaruLogic, the law, and practicality suggest that the Japanese whaling fleet will not return to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary this December, but an announcement this week by the Japanese Ministry of Fisheries indicates the whalers may just once again throw reason to the wind and return to the sanctuary for their annual debauchery.

If the Japanese whaling fleet returns to the Southern Ocean, we will be there waiting for them with even greater determination and preparedness to shut them down than any prior year.   MORE

Operation Blue Rage - Campaign Status
Are you wondering what Operation Blue Rage is all about? What are we doing in the Mediterranean and why? Do you understand how we have jurisdiction to defend the bluefin tuna?   MORE

Sea Shepherd Galapagos Shark Education Program
The Sea Shepherd Galapagos team recently presented thirty workshops to nine local schools in the islands, educating nearly 1,000 students and 30 teachers on the importance of sharks to the Galapagos Marine Reserve and the global ecosystem.

MORE

Whale Wars is Making Waves
Watson writes, "Are you watching? Whale Wars is a suspenseful docu-reality program that shows our annual campaign to save the great whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary from barbaric and illegal slaughter by the Japanese whaling fleet." New season airing now in the US and Canada!

Watson closes with these remarks: "Sea Shepherd continues to be the most aggressive and most active marine conservation organization in the world. Our ships and crew never rest, moving from one crisis situation to another, saving lives and shutting down illegal slaughter. It is an expensive operation and without our international crew of volunteers and your generous support we would not be able to accomplish as much as we have. We have achieved success in the face of impossible odds, year after year, because we have your support to keep us focused, effective, and dynamic. Thank-you!"  DONATE