Pirates of the Southern Seas

Courtesy of the Huffington Post

Photo Credit:  AP/Animal Planet

Undated photo of members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

A whale of a victory reported today in the southern seas, and by Huffington Post, for the whales, that is, and by the Robin Hoods and pirates of the Southern Ocean:

Anti-whaling activists Sea Shepherd Conservation Society declared victory this week as Japan's whaling fleet left the Antarctic with less than a third of its expected catch.

Japan's Fisheries Agency announced Friday from Tokyo that its fleet was heading home "on schedule," but that its catch of 267 whales fell far short of the approximately 900 projected, AFP reports. According to an agency official, "factors including weather conditions and sabotage acts by activists" were to blame for the weak results.

After pursuing the whalers for much of the season, Sea Shepherd announced its mission a success on its website Thursday.

"Is it a victory? Yes. We kept them running almost for the whole three months," Captain Paul Watson told Australia's ABC News24.

The paper says that the Japanese government has asked a U.S. judge to freeze Sea Shepherd's bank accounts and that the Maltese government has initiated libel proceedings against Captain Watson since he stated that Maltese officials were accepting bribes from tuna fishermen.

The group, however, remains resolute. 

At the group's website, Captain Watson states, 'If the Japanese whalers return, Sea Shepherd will return. We are committed to the defense of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary [...]  No matter how long it takes, no matter how risky or expensive. The word “sanctuary” actually means something to us and that something is worth fighting for.'

 

Courtesy of NOAA

A Humpback Whale, found in all oceans of the world.