(Sydney Morning Herald)
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Sea Shepherd sails into more controversy
Patrick Caruana
March 6, 2011 - 1:29PM
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Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson says he is 75 per cent sure Japan will not start another whale hunt as his own vessels became the focus of an Australian Federal Police investigation.
The anti-whaling group's two main ships, the Bob Barker and the Steve Irwin, arrived in Hobart on Sunday morning after an Antarctic campaign which saw the Japanese withdraw early, citing harassment from the environmentalists.
For the third year running, AFP officers searched the anti-whaling vessels and prohibited members of the public from entering the nearby docks for about two and a half hours.
An AFP spokeswoman confirmed the Sea Shepherd's activities in the Southern Ocean would be investigated.
"The AFP is undertaking investigations into the events which occurred in the Southern Ocean during January and February 2011, in accordance with Australian legislation and consistent with Australia's obligations under international law," the spokeswoman said.
"(On Sunday) the AFP did execute search warrants on the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessels in Hobart."
Once the Sea Shepherd crew were permitted to disembark, a triumphant Mr Watson said he was confident his organisation was winning its fight.
"Every year we've been going down stronger and they've been going down weaker," he told reporters.
"This year they realised they can't outrun us ... they just decided to call it quits.
"I'm 75 per cent sure they won't be back next year but, if they are, we'll be prepared to come back."
Greens leader Bob Brown was at the docks to welcome the crew, and said the AFP investigation came because of complaints from Tokyo.
"The Japanese government has complained about these ships getting in the way of commerce and industry," Senator Brown said.
"The good police are doing the work of Tokyo.
"I have written to the Minister for Foreign Affairs this morning calling for an end to this charade."
The Japanese foreign ministry called in the Australian, New Zealand and Dutch ambassadors last month to demand "effective measures to avoid the recurrence of Sea Shepherd's obstructionist activities".
Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has so far refused to comment on the meeting.
Tensions between the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the whalers reached boiling point last year when the crew of the Sea Shepherd's Ady Gil claimed they were rammed by a Japanese whaling ship in the Southern Ocean.
New Zealand authorities found both vessels were at fault.
This story was found at: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/sea-shepherd-sails-into-more-controversy-20110306-1bj8y.html
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