[K R Y]

TONY EASTLEY: Japan's whaling fleet has left its home port for another season in the Southern Ocean and it's getting there courtesy of extra money kicked in from the nation's earthquake recovery fund.

The Japanese fleet will have beefed-up security after its last season was cut short by the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling group.

But there's anger in Japan and elsewhere about how that's being paid for.

The Japan Fisheries Agency says it's a legitimate use of the earthquake money because one of the towns devastated by the March quake was a whaling port.

Adam Harvey takes up the story.

ADAM HARVEY: Three vessels have set sail from the port of Shimonoseki in western Japan.

Their mission, to catch 900 whales over the next three months in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean.

They didn't get anywhere near that amount last season and the Sea Shepherd conservation group is hoping for a repeat performance.

Paul Watson is the group's founder. He spoke to AM from his ship, the Steve Irwin, which is moored off Fremantle Harbour.

PAUL WATSON: So every year we've gone down we've gotten more successful than the year before and this last season was our most successful yet. They only took 17 per cent of their quota which meant we saved 863 whales and they went back six weeks early.

ADAM HARVEY: Three Sea Shepherd vessels will depart from Fremantle and Hobart over the next few weeks.

On board the whaling vessels - extra security and coast guard personnel.

Japan say they're needed to protect a legitimate "scientific" enterprise.

The Japan Fisheries Agency issued a statement to AM.

EXCERPT FROM STATEMENT: The government is aiming for commercial whaling so the purpose of whaling is to gather scientific data.

ADAM HARVEY: The Japanese government has kicked in an extra $28 million to help fund this year's whaling operation.

There's anger, though, about the source of that money. It's come from Japan's earthquake recovery fund.

The Japan Fisheries Agency says it's a legitimate use of that money because one of the towns devastated by the March quake was a whaling port.

EXCERPT FROM STATEMENT: Shimonoseki is one of the prominent whaling towns. It has a food culture of eating whale too. The whole community is aiming to restart commercial whaling. We will continue gathering data so it can carry out commercial whaling.

ADAM HARVEY: Junichi Sato is the executive director of Greenpeace Japan. He says it's a massive stretch to link whaling to the earthquake.

JUNICHI SATO: It's not related to the recovery at all. It is used to cover the debts of the whaling program because the whaling program itself has been suffering from big financial problems.

ADAM HARVEY: Paul Watson.

PAUL WATSON: I know there's a lot of angry people who said 'Look I didn't send my money to help the victims of the tsunami only to have you use it to go down south and kill whales'.

ADAM HARVEY: Mr Watson says it's bound to get ugly this summer in the Southern Ocean.

PAUL WATSON: I did ask the Australian Government for assistance. I think the responsible thing considering the number of Australian citizens involved would be to send a vessel down to keep the peace. But they don't seem to be too interested in that.

ADAM HARVEY: The Environment Minister Tony Burke says whaling in the Southern Ocean is wrong and unlawful but there are no plans to send a customs or navy vessel.

Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says that's weak.

GREG HUNT: There is a risk of a significant, potentially fatal conflict at sea between whalers and protesters and the Government must dispatch a customs vessel by Christmas day in order to coincide with the likely arrival of both the whaling fleet and protesters in the Southern Ocean.

ADAM HARVEY: The first whales should be caught by the end of the month. The season lasts until March.

TONY EASTLEY: Adam Harvey reporting.

Source - ABC Australia

This makes my blood boil. I despise the whaling in the first place, it's illegal despite hiding behind their 'it's scientific research' lies and now they're taking money from the Earthquake funds/donations!?

PAUL WATSON: I know there's a lot of angry people who said 'Look I didn't send my money to help the victims of the tsunami only to have you use it to go down south and kill whales'.

Pretty much sums it up for me. I donated a small amount and no way in hell I'd want that funding the slaughter of Whales.

[box]

That's a disgrace, after all the people that donated money to help victims of the tsunami. What possible science could be done by killing and processing a whale over and over, packaging the meat and selling it to food markets.

[xeberus]

Whalers from Japan, douchebags of the day.

I donated to help Japan in their time of need, not to support illegal whale hunting. While I'm not a huge activist to protect the whales or anything it is still something that I oppose and have been included in against my will and without my knowledge.

I support the sea shepard conservation group. Hopefully they can shut those bastards down again this year.

[Scarecrow]

Sink the whaling ships.

Problem solved.

[box]

If they sling a few torpedoes at them, the world would take notice. Sure you may spend a few years in jail, but your point would be taken a little more serious than throwing stinky butter on their deck.

[Hammerlock2.0]

As long as they actually use every part of the whale I don't see a problem with whaling. So there aren't many whales left. I'm sure nature will find a worthy substitute for this useful animal. Just like it found a replacement for the Dodo, dinosaurs and the most essential animal of all time: the Quagga.

I'm sure it will find a replacement for humans too after the next flood.

[joshua7789]

Originally Posted by box

If they sling a few torpedoes at them, the world would take notice. Sure you may spend a few years in jail, but your point would be taken a little more serious than throwing stinky butter on their deck.

So, you would like to kill some people in order to save some whales? Seems a bit off.

[Hammerlock2.0]

Originally Posted by joshua7789

So, you would like to kill some people in order to save some whales? Seems a bit off.

I'm pretty sure you know this...

The bad guy in a movie kills lots of people and for some reason you don't really hate him. But then he kills the main character's dog. For some reason, NOW IT'S FREAKING PERSONAL!!!

[joshua7789]

Originally Posted by Hammerlock2.0

I'm pretty sure you know this...

The bad guy in a movie kills lots of people and for some reason you don't really hate him. But then he kills the main character's dog. For some reason, NOW IT'S FREAKING PERSONAL!!!

Sounds like "I am Legend". His family was dead, humanity was basically wiped off of the planet, but he didnt snap until his dog was killed. Now those monsters have gone to far!!!!!!

[K R Y]

Originally Posted by Hammerlock2.0

As long as they actually use every part of the whale I don't see a problem with whaling. So there aren't many whales left. I'm sure nature will find a worthy substitute for this useful animal. Just like it found a replacement for the Dodo, dinosaurs and the most essential animal of all time: the Quagga.

I'm sure it will find a replacement for humans too after the next flood.

The difference is Human's couldn't of saved the Dodo or the Dinosaurs. And those species weren't anywhere near the level of intelligence Whales are at. They live in close, family groups for their entire lives. They are intelligent beyond any other animal on the planet, with exception to Humans and Dolphins which are closer than you might think.

Dinosaurs were wiped out my a natural disaster. Not hunted brutally.

Dodo's were only indigenous to one Island I think, and killed off by it's inhabitants. Again there is a huge difference in hunting for food to survive, then slaughtering thousands of Wales then feeding the Wale meet to school kids.

I think it's disgusting to see the extinction of a species coming, and still not care and continue wiping it out.

Small tribes hunting Wales to survive, is very, very different.

If you think every piece of the Wale is being used by the Japanese then...lol. The Wale meat is actually poisoning people who eat it as well due to the massive amounts of Mercury and other harmful toxins within the Whale.