Activists attack ship of whalers

TOKYO - Agence France-Presse

Yushin Maru No. 2 shoots its water cannons at the Sea Shepherd crew. AP photos

Militant environmentalists Sea Shepherd fired distress flares at whaling ships in the Antarctic Ocean, the Japanese Fisheries Agency said yesterday, in the latest high-seas confrontation.

Activists from the group’s ship Bob Barker fired more than 40 flares and used laser lights against the Japanese vessels, Yushin Maru No. 2 and No. 3, for a few hours on March 5, the official said. No damage or injuries were reported, he said.

The Sea Shepherd reported on its website that the incident was a “night attack” by the Japanese ships.
“The harpoon ships trained their spotlights on the bridge of the Bob Barker, in an effort to blind the crew but backed off when the Bob Barker crew retaliated with lasers.

“Flares were fired and angry radio messages were exchanged in Japanese and English,” it said.