Australia Sends Vessel To Monitor Japanese Whaling Fleet

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Source: eFluxMedia

Australia Sends Vessel To Monitor Japanese Whaling Fleet
By Matthew Williams
The Oceanic Viking, a surveillance vessel, was sent by Australia to spy on Japan’s whaling fleet in the southern ocean in order to gather evidence for legal action against it.

The icebreaker left from Perth yesterday and for 20 days will track the Japanese fleet, the Guardian Unlimited reports.

The Oceanic Viking is armed and usually used for tracking poachers.

This move comes as Britain and other countries that are against whaling entered a campaign forcing Japan to end its annual “scientific” hunt.

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The icebreaker will need almost a week to reach the Japanese whaling fleet.

Australia increases pressure on Japan over whale hunt
Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Wednesday January 9, 2008

Australia has stepped up pressure on Japan to end its controversial whale hunt in the southern ocean, dispatching a surveillance vessel that will gather evidence for a possible legal challenge to the cull.

The Oceanic Viking, an armed icebreaker normally used to apprehend poachers, left a naval base near Perth yesterday and will track the fleet for 20 days, local media reported today.

Australian customs officials do not have the authority to board the Japanese ships and, in a conciliatory gesture, the Oceanic Viking's twin 50mm machine guns will be stowed below deck.

In addition, it will not share information on the fleet's location with protesters from Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd.

(more)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/australia/story/0,,2237788,00.html

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