Global News - January 2008

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New Zealand PM issues warning to Japanese whalers

Mon 28 January 2008 13:45 UK — Australasia,Marine Wildlife

New Zealand's prime minister, Helen Clark, has warned a Japanese whaling fleet that surveillance photos of their boats will be released if they cross into the country's Antarctic waters.

Ms Clark has been a strong critic of the fleet's plans to kill as many as 1,000 whales, and her latest comments come after she expressed concerns over New Zealand's ability to help any Japanese boats that may encounter difficulties.

"The government's instructions have been that if the Japanese whaling fleet is discovered in the area where New Zealand is patrolling, then we would like photographs and we will release them," Ms Clark said.

"We won't release co-ordinates for obvious safety-related reasons but we will put information out to the world where we see the fleet."

Commenting on the justifications given for Japan's decision to embark on the hunt, she added: "We think the number of whales they take makes it clear that this is not about science. It's about maintaining whaling with the hope that some time in the future they could return to commercial whaling."

Japan's plans to kill roughly 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales have been internationally criticised, with 31 nations issuing a formal diplomatic protest against the hunting.

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