Sea Shepherd (SS) dominated all the agenda of the 3rd and last morning of the IWC Intersessional meeting. Japan via the Institute of Cetacean research (ICR) (who conducts  and runs the Japanese “junk-science” operations) presented a talk based on the “happenings” on the Southern Ocean during the last whaling season.

All their presentation was focused down on the ramming, the propellers disabling tactics and line-throwing rockets used by SS. In one of the videos they showed some one screaming. It was funny because they showed it like a way of demonstrating the danger and fear the crews of the catchers were experiencing but in the end he asked for no translation. Yeah it was someone screaming, but just swearing all the way through.

During their presentation they mentioned a few things that I got intrigued:
1) Japan’s claim that you were using nylon ropes to disable vessels and that after an unsuccessful attempt to do so, you would not recover the ropes
2) It also stated that if you were there to defend whales and then if some of their vessels was properly disabled it could eventually create a environmental catastrophe in the pristine region that is the Antarctic.

I took my time to ask Shannon Mann (long-time SS activist) about this 2 main question and she got me a nice and clarifying message. However, this is her perspective, not an official SS position!

[quoting Shannon Mann]
“But, in regards to your questions… we do use ropes to attempt prop fouling of the Japanese vessels, I’ve seen us try several times in the past three years. However, each situation is different and although we try to retrieve all of the lines we drop, there have been cases where we haven’t. If the situation is that we have to make the choice between doubling back to retrieving a line and abandoning the pursuit of the Nisshin Maru… we will stay on our pursuit of  factory ship and make sure no whales are being killed.  Essentially, if it comes directly down to the choice between whale life and a line, we choose the whale. As well, we often change course to pick up stray lines (and it happens often) when we are voyaging to and from the Antarctic territory.

So far we haven’t disabled one of the whaling ships with one of these lines.  I don’t know if we ever will, but I can assure you that we would do everything possible to mitigate the risk to their ship.  We would jeopardize our campaign and SS reputation if we caused injury, death or environmental destruction.  If the situation occurred where a ship was in need of assistance, obviously we would be there to ensure the ship and everyone on board was safe.  If they would refuse our help, they also have the rest of the fleet there to assist.

I’m not sure I’ve answered your questions, but feel free to email me again for further discussion.  As well, these are my opinions from my observations as a crew member for the past few years, not official SS stances… I would have to ask Paul for that, and could if you would like an official statement. [...]“

After my last lunch at the chaotic cafeteria on the 8^th floor of the headquarters of FAO, I headed to the Santa Prisca hotel to pack up and leave. Seemed a easy task, but I always try to complicate it. I thought I had a long way to go and a few transfers in the way. My plan was to take the Metro, then the Train and reach Fiumicino Airport in time for my departure. After encountering some Greenpeace fundraisers on the street, they told me the best way of doing it was actually using the train station just next to the Metro near the Piramide. So I did, I shared the train with Alexandre de Lichtervelde, the Belgian IWC Commissioner and got far too early to the airport, so early the ladies at the check-in introduced me into an earlier flight. The only problem was that I didn’t really looked at my ticket and my only objective was to send away my luggage. So I watched all the people from the departure lounge boarding the plane I was meant to take. Because I was earring my mp3 player I did noticed any of the 20 times the name Francisco Gonçalves “last call, boarding etc” was pronounced. So I made a plane get delayed since all my luggage had to be taken of the aircraft and I got another tour of the airport getting my luggage back, making the check-in again and having the flight attendants eager to almost punch me, but in the end they we very sweet. After a short stop in Madrid I reached Lisbon Airport where my good friend Susana picked me up and we went down town for a few drink and cheap chat.

So the IWC Intersessional 2009 meeting was concluded.

Read the IFAW press release at the conclusion of the 3-day meeting: Whaling Commission harpoons science in favour of political compromise