"HOBART, Australia -- The month of January, usually the prime whale catching month for the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean, has come and gone without the death of a single whale, says Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Australia Director Jeff Hansen."
"It is the international organization’s ninth Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign, Operation Zero Tolerance. This season’s campaign is under the direction of Sea Shepherd Australia, now that founding president Paul Watson has handed authority to Hansen and former Australian Greens leader and senator Bob Brown.
Authority was transferred in December in compliance with a U.S. court restraining order and after Watson’s escape last summer from Germany, where he was detained on bail for possible extradition to Costa Rica.
The Sea Shepherd fleet of four ships, one helicopter, drones, and more than 120 volunteer crew from around the world has to date succeeded in keeping the four-vessel Japanese fleet of “research” whalers separated on the run, making it impossible for them to catch whales, Hansen says."
Environment News Service had the story February 4, 2013.
SEE ALSO:
"Japanese Whaling Industry 'dead in the Water', Says Animal Welfare Group" (Guardian)
"Australia Orders Japanese Whalers To Stay Away" (Guardian)
"Study Sinks Japan's 'Scientific Whaling' Program" (Deutsche Welle)
"Whalers Threaten Contempt Action Against Sea Shepherd" (The Age)
"Taxpayers Bailing Out Japanese Whalers" (Australian ABC)