Japanese Whaling Fleet Rams Trimaran Ady Gil

Every year, the Japanese whaling fleet sets out for Antarctic waters to harvest whales illegally from the freezing waters.  They never give a thought to the pain and terror these marine mammals experience or the ramifications of their harvesting.

The fleet uses the guise of research in attempts to try to justify their breaking of the law.  Whales are not allowed to be harvested unless they are being used for research purposes.  These whales are not being used for  research, they are being sold in the whale-meat hungry aisles of Japanese fish markets.  The Japanese do not attempt to hide the fact that they are eating the whale meat.  They allege that the West is trying to subvert their culture by trying to outlaw the capturing of whale for food.

This year, the Shonan Maru 2 (a factory ship) rammed the trimaran, Ady Gil, that had been tailing it in an attempt to thwart any attempts the Maru 2 might make to capture another whale.  The Ady Gil is one of the vessels Captain Paul Watson and his crew use in their fight to stop the illegal hunting of the whales.  Captain Paul Watson is most well-known for his adventures on the vessel, Sea Shepard.

Six crew members lives were put in jeopardy when the nose of the trimaran was smashed and the vessel risked floundering and sinking.  Just a few minutes in freezing Antarctic waters means certain death from hypothermia.  Fortunately, all six crew members were rescued; but, one member had sustained broken ribs in the melee.

In my mind, this is attempted murder.  The Japanese government must be made to acknowledge this act for what it is.