We shouldn’t be whacking one of the greatest species on the planet…

- Peter Brown, first mate on the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling vessel Steve Irwin

I had a chance to take part in an advance viewing of Animal Planet’s “Whale Wars,” a TV docu-series that blends activism, adventure, and reality TV together. The series isn’t just a raw look at the conflict between Japanese “research” whaling vessels and environmentalists, but it documents a crew of mostly inexperienced newbies struggling to work together to expose and cease Japanese whaling activity. The series also highlights the feud between Greenpeace and Captain Paul Watson’s Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Captain Watson, a co-founder of Greenpeace, was voted out of the organization some years before, so there is a tension between the two organizations.

At sea, the crew’s home is the anti-whaling vessel Steve Irwin. The vessel embarks into the Southern Ocean in order to disrupt and expose Japanese whaling activity. Commercial whaling has been banned, but a loophole in the ban allows a certain number of whales to be taken for research purposes; however, the Japanese are taking advantage of this loophole by turning the whale meat into profit.

The Southern Ocean is a dangerous place for humans, but the Southern Ocean is also one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  The series takes its viewers into this dangerous but beautiful environment, and viewers will note that these high seas result in aggravating seasickness for some of the crew.

Tools used by the crew to disrupt Japanese whalers include inflatable boats and stink bombs. The stink bombs disrupt the whaling activity by clearing the whaling vessel’s deck of her workers. The stink bombs also render any whale meat it contacts worthless, and a good thrower is required to deploy them onto a whaling vessel’s deck.

Launching the Zodiac inflatable is perhaps one of the more dangerous tasks for the anti-whaling activists, and in the first episode, a Zodiac inflatable flips upside down with its crew into the cold Antarctic waters during a launch (see image below). However, the crew’s Mustang survival suits saved them.

Finding the Japanese whaling fleet is a great challenge, and the anti-whaling vessel Steve Irwin uses a special helicopter to aid their search. Although in the first episode the helicopter was accidentally damaged, it later proved absolutely necessary in find the whaling vessels.

Personally, I thought the opening song from the Smashing Pumpkins’s, “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” was very appropriate. The crew is fascinating and diverse, and there is even a vegan chef that prepares meals for them. I believe “Whale Wars” has the potential to be a really exciting series, and I recommend it. “Whale Wars” premieres Friday night, November 7th, at 9PM Eastern and Pacific on Animal Planet.

Read the press release:

Animal Planet Press Release: Whale Wars

On the Net:

1. WHALING: The Japanese are illegally slaughtering minke whale calves
2. Prior to Friday’s premiere of the new Animal Planet series Whale Wars, Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research has accused Animal Planet of ecoterrorism.
3. Japan & USA. Animal Planet collaborated with eco-terrorists claims Institute of Cetacean Research

Images provided by Animal Planet.

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Is modern whaling necessary? The Japanese claim their whaling is conducted for research purposes as stated under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. However, the Japanese are not suppose to kill calves. The Australian government is currently gathering evidence that will be used in international court against Japan. Baleen Whale Catch Limits under Section 14 of The Schedule to the Convention states:

It is forbidden to take or kill suckling calves or female whales accompanied by calves. 

Keyword is the seemingly insignificant but very significant word “or” to give meaning that female whales with calves are protected. The image at left shows a minke whale calf being hauled out of the ocean, most likely with its mother.

Aboriginal whaling is prohibited from taking a calf or “any whale accompanied by a calf” as well. Baleen Whale Catch Limits under Section 13(a)(4) of The Schedule to the Convention states:

For aboriginal whaling conducted under subparagraphs (b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(3) of this paragraph, it is forbidden to strike, take or kill calves or any whale accompanied by a calf. For aboriginal whaling conducted under subparagraphs (b)(4) of this paragraph, it is forbidden to strike, take or kill suckling calves or female whales accompanied by calves. 

Hat tip to Kevin.