AP: Japan to pull whaling fleet in Antarctic...hunt ends early!

[catgirl]

OKYO - A Japanese whaling fleet is heading home after high-seas brinksmanship with environmental groups and a deadly fire that crippled its mother ship and ended the hunt in the Antarctic hundreds of whales short of its goal.

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The return of the six-ship fleet brought to an early end this year's hunt, which had been scheduled to continue through March. Officials said it was the first time in the 20 years since the scientific hunts began that one had to end early.

"We are very disappointed," Takahide Naruko, the head of the Fisheries Agency's Far Seas Division, said Wednesday.

Officials also lodged a strong protest over "vicious and reckless" attempts by whaling opponents to sabotage the hunt, which killed 508 whales out of a target of 860.

The fire aboard the Nisshin Maru two weeks ago killed one crew member and left the vessel unable to sail under its own power for 10 days, prompting protests from New Zealand and from the environmental group Greenpeace over potential oil and chemical spills or damage to penguin colonies.

more on link- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070228/ap_on_re_as/japan_whaling_ship

[judaspriestess]

1. WOOHOO

:applause:

and stick those whaling ships where the sun don't shine!! I am still saddened they killed over 500 whales none the less. SHAME ON THEM!!!

[catgirl]

2. Yah, they need 800 whales for "research".

[saigon68]

6. These criminals Eat their "Research"

I hope they vomit

[LeftyMom]

3. Good.

I hope that all that whale meat gives every asshole that eats it a horrific intestinal illness, the whaling ships all sink and every politician who supports continued whaling finds themselves on the unemployment line.

[Nihil]

12. I'll drink to that! (n/t)

:toast:

[wordpix]

4. good news for whales---bad news for penguins. Stop the illegal whale hunt for good!

[Vidar]

5. Excellent.

[Kolesar]

7. This is hopeful...eom

[The Stranger]

8. And if they come back, there will be more where that came from.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Sure as hell hope so. May it get harder and harder every time they begin a new "scientifc" hunt. nt

[flvegan]

10. Japan...if you return, I wish for you to receive that ramming

that Capt. Watson suggested.

Whalers...fuck you.

[alittlelark]

11. The Sea Shepard has herded a feral into the flock.

:yourock:

[Number9Dream]

13. Tears for the 508 intelligent creatures slaughtered

Shame on the Japanese people for supporting these butchers!