Commentary by Captain Paul Watson
It is November 27th, and the Japanese whaling fleet has not yet left Japan. Never before have they been this late in departing from Japan to head to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to slaughter whales. The whalers have not officially said they will not be returning to the Southern Ocean, but they are acting as if they may not be returning to the coast of Antarctica this season.
Are we seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for the whale wars in the Southern Ocean? What a wonderful thing that would be – 935 Minke, 50 humpback and 50 fin whales will all be spared.
We can only hope, and wonder at the same time, just what kind of game the whalers are playing. Over the last ten years, the whaling fleet has consistently left between November 6th, and November 19th. The Fisheries Agency, the …