Failed investigation outrages ocean activists

Ocean activists Sea Shepherd have reacted angrily to a report which concludes that although the multimillion dollar black vessel on loan to Sea Shepherd was memorably cut in half earlier this year on video footage seen around the world, no finding was possible due to a lack of cooperation from Japan.

The report, from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), was titled “Fact finding report into the reported collision involving the New Zealand registered craft Ady Gil and the Japan registered whaling ship Shonan Maru No. 2 in the Southern Ocean on January 6th, 2010.”

Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson is outraged that at the same time Japan is essentially blocking one investigation, the Australian Federal Police are investigating claims against the NGO at the request of the Japanese Government.

Watson predicts that Japan will similarly stonewall investigations by New Zealand’s Maritime Safety Authority into the ship’s sinking, even while continuing to hold Ady Gil skipper Peter Bethune prisoner and awaiting trial for his activities in protesting whaling.

Criticizing the Australian Government, Watson said they had done nothing to deliver on a previous election promise to protect whales in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, and that this seems to be the outcome whoever wins government in Australia because of political deference to Japan, a major partner in trade.

“In other words,” said Watson, “they are talking big but doing little and it has all become about ‘pretty pictures of whales, smoke and mirrors, and posturing’. Those are the exact words used by Environment Minister Peter Garrett before he was elected, and before he was minister, when he referred to the lack of action on the Liberal government’s part to defend the whales from Japan.

“In other words, the whales can always depend on the Opposition in Australia, whoever they are or might be, but most likely will never be able to depend upon an elected government (unless that government should happen to be Green).”

The Sea Shepherd captain hopes Australians will think about whaling come election time. And he continues to believe that investigations have been hampered by considerations beyond the actual sinking of the Ady Gil.

“This report is worthless and smacks of political pressure. To end an investigation because of a failure of one of the parties to cooperate is to ridicule the entire process,” Captain Watson said.