HALIEUTIQUE MER ET LITTORAL

nternational campaigners have accused Japan of being guilty of “medieval butchery” after a video was released showing images of slaughtered whales onboard a Japanese vessel inside a sanctuary, local media reports.

US-based Sea Shepherd says it caught up with five of Japan’s whaling vessels and has photographic evidence of their illegal activities inside the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary – an area surrounding Antarctica and close to Australian and New Zealand waters.

Japanese ships have been hit in the past for catching and killing hundreds of whales in the Southern Ocean, despite having agreed to an international moratorium on commercial whaling.

It is understood that the images were taken from a helicopter flown by activists in the area and show whale carcasses on a bloodied ship deck.

Apparently, the Japanese foreign ministry has assured that “research whaling” is not a violation of the agreement, but a “legitimate right” under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.

Activists are said to have urged the Australian and New Zealand governments to take action.

It is thought that Australia will be monitoring confrontations between whale poachers and activists from a government jet during surveillance missions over the Southern Ocean this year.