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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEA SHEPHERD OFFERS $25,000 REWARD FOR WHALERS' COORDINATES New Zealand Air Force Spotted Japanese Whalers but Won't Release Location of the Fleet ABOARD THE FARLEY MOWAT, Southern Ocean, January 31, 2007 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- Chris Carter, the New Zealand Minister for the Environment knows where the Japanese whaling fleet is illegally slaughtering whales. But New Zealand is not sharing this information with the public and especially not with anyone who wants to defend and save whales. Why? Because the Japanese have asked them not to. "This is like a Police Chief finding out that a bank robbery is in progress but refusing to tell the his officers which bank because the thieves asked him not to," said Captain Paul Watson from the Sea Shepherd flagship, Farley Mowat. In response, Sea Shepherd has offered a reward of USD$25,000 for anyone who will provide them with coordinates which lead them successfully to the Japanese whaling fleet. The Royal New Zealand Air Force recently spotted and videotaped the illegal Japanese whaling operations while on patrol for illegal fishing operations in the Ross Sea. According to Sea Shepherd, the illegal taking of commercially valuable Antarctic toothfish is a concern to New Zealand because they fish for the toothfish, but since New Zealand does not have a whaling industry, the Japanese are not competition. The Japanese are, therefore, free to ruthlessly slaughter whales in areas where third world fishing vessels are seized and confiscated for similar illegal operations. "Chris Carter seems to be taking his orders from Tokyo," said Farley Mowat crewmember Jaime Brown from Dunedin, New Zealand. "There are New Zealanders down here in hostile conditions trying to stop the illegal slaughter of whales and our environment minister is more worried about Japanese commercial interests. He will find that he won't be getting many votes from the land of the rising sun and less from New Zealanders who care about whales." Two Sea Shepherd ships - the Farley Mowat and the Robert Hunter - continue to patrol the remote waters of the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary in search of Japanese pirate whalers. "The position of the New Zealand government in protecting the illegal interests of Japanese whalers is disappointing," said Robert Hunter Engineer Willie Houtman of Auckland. "While we risk our lives to defend whales in the Sanctuary, Carter provides aid and comfort to the enemies of the whales." The Sea Shepherd ships are not patrolling the Sanctuary to protest whaling. The objective of the campaign is to enforce international conservation law against illegal whaling activities in accordance with the principles established for intervention by non-governmental organizations enshrined in the United Nations World Charter for Nature. The Society is hoping that someone will come forward and offer them coordinates for the accurate location of the Japanese whaling fleet. About Sea Shepherd Conservation Society 
Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an International non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protects ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations. Founder and President Captain Paul Watson, also co-founder of Greenpeace Foundation, is a renowned, respected leader in environmental issues.
Visit www.seashepherd.org for more information. For photos, video, and additional information, please visit http://media.seashepherd.org CONTACT: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society International Headquarters Kristine Vasic Media Relations Manager +1-360-370-5650 Website: www.seashepherd.org Email: media@seashepherd.org To Interview Captain Paul Watson onboard the M/Y Farley Mowat SAT Phone: (00) 8816-4145-8907 To Interview Captain Alex Cornelissen or International Director Jonny Vasic onboard the M/Y Robert Hunter SAT Phone: (00) 8707-6468-5972 International Prefix 011 (From US) 0011 (From Australia) |
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