Belgie weekend 2009

Bluefin Tuna Highly Endangered According to Japanese Expert

Japanese Fishing expert Masayuki Komatsu admits Japan made a mistake on Bluefin tuna. The Bluefin tuna should have been listed as endangered by CITES according to Komatsu.

In an interview with Asahi News, Komatsu stated:

“I wish to stress once again the importance of advancing discussions and making decisions based on scientific data. In that sense, the decision concerning the Bluefin tuna was regrettable. When the conference of the parties to the Washington Treaty (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) met in March, it rejected a proposal to ban international trade of the Atlantic Bluefin tuna with the objections of Japan and other countries.  

But I believe Japan should have cooperated with the European Union and the United States to strengthen the regulation. Generally speaking, whale resources are abundant although there are differences among species. While the minke whale has a green light above it, the fin whale has a yellow light, for example. But a red light is flashing over the Bluefin tuna, whose populations have dwindled as a result of overfishing.

Banning the Bluefin tuna trade may appear disadvantageous to Japan in the short term, but if we develop policy based on scientific grounds, we can win trust of the international community in the end. The principle of sustainable use also applies to abundant whales.”

Komatsu wants to increase the whaling quota because he believes that minke whale can replace Bluefin tuna at sushi restaurants.

He said that the quality of whale meat is poor because it is the by-product of “scientific research whaling”.  In the interview he said:

“The meat does not sell because it is expensive and of poor quality. When you look at whale meat sold in the market, you notice a red, blood-like juice oozing from it. The juice that makes the meat tasty drained because cell membranes were broken when the meat was frozen. This is because the temperature can only be lowered to 30 degrees below zero on whaling ships. Since tuna is quick-frozen to minus 70 degrees, cell membranes remain intact. In whaling, too, new ships should be built so that the meat can be quick-frozen for better quality. I am sure it would drastically change the awareness of consumers. Whale meat could be used as a sushi ingredient in place of tuna.”

Komatsu wants a new whaling factory ship built and the whaling fleet modernized. He wants an increase in whale kills to over 2,000 whales in the Southern Ocean. He continued:

“When the number of catches is increased, costs can be lowered and tasty whale meat can be supplied at lower prices.”

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is presently preparing our ships for a return to the Southern Ocean in 2010/2011 in what will be called Operation No Compromise. Our objective is to once again cut whale quotas in half or more, to cost the whaling fleet their profit, and to keep the crimes of the Japanese whaling fleet in the public light via the media.

“We will continue to oppose, intervene, obstruct, harass, and discourage Japanese whaling operations in the Southern Ocean until the Japanese whaling fleet is driven from the waters of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary forever. We oppose the killing of any whale of any species within the boundaries of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary without exceptions by any nation for any reason, scientific or commercial,” said Captain Paul Watson.

Watson added, “We are glad to hear that Komatsu agrees with our position on the endangered status of the Bluefin tuna. Our question to him is: what do you intend to do about it? If you believe that the Bluefin tuna is endangered how can you (Komatsu) not use your influence to ban the sale of Bluefin tuna in Japan?”

Finally- Australia Government Initiates Legal Action On Japanese Whaling

It has taken three years, but finally the government of Kevin Rudd has decided to act on their election promise of 2007.

Australia is officially initiating a legal action against Japanese whaling in the International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands.

"The Australian government has not taken this decision lightly," Environment Protection Minister Peter Garrett, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith and Attorney-General Robert McClelland said in a statement.

This is the statement from the government of Australia:

STEPHEN SMITH MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs

PETER GARRETT MP
Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts

ROBERT McCLELLAND MP
Attorney-General

28 May 2010

GOVERNMENT INITIATES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST JAPANESE WHALING

Australia will initiate legal action in the International Court of Justice in The Hague against Japanese ‘scientific’ whaling in the Southern Ocean.

The decision underlines the Government’s commitment to bring to an end Japan’s program of so-called ‘scientific’ whaling in the Southern Ocean.  It also demonstrates our commitment to do what it takes to end whaling globally. 

The Australian Government has not taken this decision lightly. We have been patient and committed in our efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to this issue. We have engaged in intensive discussions in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and bilaterally with Japan.

We have enjoyed the support of many other IWC members who share Australia's concerns and goals.  We commend countries of the European Union, the Buenos Aires group of Latin American countries, and others who have joined with Australia in highlighting, in particular, the necessity for phasing out whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary.

But to date, the response of the whaling countries has not been positive.  Recent statements by whaling countries in the Commission have provided Australia with little cause for hope that our serious commitment to conservation of the world’s whales will be reflected in any potential IWC compromise agreement.

The Government has always been firm in our resolve that if we could not find a diplomatic resolution to our differences over this issue, we would pursue legal action.  The Government’s action fulfils that commitment. 

Australia will remain closely engaged in the IWC process and will continue to work hard in the lead up to and at the IWC meeting in June to pursue our objectives  While an outcome at that meeting which meets Australia’s fundamental conservation objectives is slim, the Government will continue to engage constructively in the diplomatic effort. 

Australia and Japan share a comprehensive strategic, security and economic partnership.  We share a substantial commercial relationship built over many decades, growing strategic and security linkages, and work together closely in key international forums such as the G20, the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and APEC.   

The Government’s action today reflects a disagreement in one element of a relationship that is deep, broad and multi-dimensional.

Both Australia and Japan have agreed that, whatever our differences on whaling, this issue should not be allowed to jeopardise the strength and the growth of our bilateral relationship.

At the same time, the Australian Government will keep working tirelessly to achieve an end to whaling in the Southern Ocean, and we will use all legal and diplomatic avenues to achieve our goal. 

A formal application will be lodged in The Hague early next week.

Sea Shepherd Response

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society supports the initiative by the government of Australia and views it has a positive development in the effort to end illegal Japanese whaling operations in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

“At last, some action out of Canberra,” said Captain Paul Watson. “We need a definitive international judicial answer to this continuing controversy in the Southern Ocean. We trust that the international court will side with Australia to deliver a stern verdict ordering Japan to cease and desist with their unlawful slaughter of endangered and protected whales inside an internationally established whale sanctuary. We trust the court to understand just what the word ‘sanctuary’ means.”

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is preparing to return to the Southern Ocean in December 2010 for Operation No Compromise, the 7th Sea Shepherd voyage to intercept and intervene against illegal Japanese whaling activities. 

“This action by Australia lends further credibility to our in the field intervention activities in the Southern Ocean,” said Captain Paul Watson from Brisbane, Australia.

Update: Captain Pete Bethune’s Trial Starts Today

The criminal trial against Sea Shepherd Conservation Society volunteer Captain Pete Bethune began in Tokyo on May 27.  Captain Bethune was arrested in March and remains in maximum-security detention in Tokyo.  He was detained after boarding the Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru 2 in February to protest the sinking of Sea Shepherd’s vessel Ady Gil (which he captained) as well as Japan’s illegal whaling operations. He faces several charges, including trespassing and property damage.

Contrary to the many inaccurate media reports currently circulating, Captain Bethune has not pled “guilty” to the charges he’s currently facing. If that were the case, there would be no need for a trial. While it is true that Captain Bethune concedes many of the facts related to his charges (such as boarding the Shonan Maru 2 which are of public record), this is not the same as admitting “guilt.” Japan does not do "pleas" in the way U.S. criminal law operates.

Captain Bethune boarded the Shonan Maru 2 to present the captain of that vessel with a three million dollar invoice for damages arising from the Shonan Maru 2’s destruction of the vessel Ady Gil. Bethune also boarded the vessel in an effort to stop it from slaughtering more whales, and his actions did cause the Shonan Maru 2 to prematurely withdraw from the illegal whaling operation in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Sea Shepherd’s Seattle-based law firm, Harris & Moure, will have two of its lawyers in Tokyo during the trial both to assist Bethune’s Japanese defense team and to explain Sea Shepherd’s position regarding the trial and Japan’s illegal whaling operations.  Harris & Moure’s Managing Partner, Dan Harris, will be available in Tokyo for media questions beginning on May 26 and throughout the trial.

Steve Dickinson, who heads Harris & Moure’s Asia practice out of Qingdao, China, will be at the trial both as a translator and as a liaison to Sea Shepherd in the United States.  Mr. Dickinson began his legal career with a prominent Tokyo law firm and is fluent in Japanese.