Legendary activist announces a new ship to
protect whales in Antarctica as
Japanese whalers to resume poaching.
Video and Photos
HOBART,
Tasmania, Australia,
May 2,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ocean conservation organization
Captain Paul Watson Foundation, which sails under the banner
of Neptune's Pirates has just acquired a new vessel, The
Bandero, a former Japanese Fisheries Patrol ship, to combat
illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The vessel,
which has just sailed from Busan, Korea, will dock in Hobart,
Tasmania on Wednesday.
PAUL WATSON TO RETURN TO ANTARCTICA TO PROTECT WHALES
Japan ended its
Antarctic whaling program in 2018 after the relentless pursuit by
Watson's ships and later, a ruling by the International Court of
Justice concluding Japan's whaling
program in the Antarctic (JARPA II) was in breach of obligations
assumed by Japan under the
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling ('ICRW').
Despite this, Japanese whaling company Kyodo Senpaku, recently
launched a newly built 50$ million dollar whale processing factory
ship, the Kangei Maru, in Shimonoseki, which has been
designed with the ability to travel as far as Antarctica to hunt whales.
"If Japan decides to return to the Southern Ocean
Whale Sanctuary, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation will target
illegal whaling activities in Australia's Antarctic Territory," said
Omar Todd, CEO at The Captain Paul
Watson Foundation.
Captain Paul
Watson is known for his fight against whaling in the
Southern Ocean Sanctuary and his actions have saved the lives of
thousands of whales throughout the years. Under the new foundation
bearing his name, he is joined by volunteers and activists from
around the Globe in the effort to protect whales and the delicate
balance of life in Antarctic waters.
"The previous organizations I founded have moved
to the mainstream, but my team and I remain loyal to our cause and
continue with the same course of action, utilizing our proven
strategies of aggressive non-violence," stated Captain Paul Watson.
The Bandero, sailing on a single permit
voyage to Australia as the
NORTHERN HORIZON, under a Mongolian Flag, was recently
purchased covertly by Watson's Foundation from the Japanese
government. "Months of preparation went into acquiring a suitable
vessel to restart Southern Ocean campaigns. Though this vessel will
be used to curtail whaling in Antarctic waters, there is no denying
Japan builds some of the best
quality vessels, in fact this ship is tailor-made for what we do"
said Captain Locky MacLean, who has helped acquire 10 ships for
Captain Watson over the two decades he has sailed with him,
including the former Japanese Oceanographic Research vessel
Seifu Maru in 2012, which was also
unveiled in Hobart and named SAM
SIMON, after the Producer of the Simpsons television show,
who donated funds toward the vessel's acquisition.
The Bandero, named after the Tequila brand
of American Billionaire, John Paul DeJoria, Founder of Patron
Tequila and John Paul Mitchell hair
care products, is a 64-meter ship with a gross tonnage of 499 tons,
and will be stationed in Hobart, Tasmania in the coming weeks while undergoing
reflagging and survey work. Skipper Mark
Gibbs, who sailed the ship down from Korea in 17 days,
stated "Its a big ocean out there, and thanks to benefactors like
John Paul DeJoria, we'll be able to do our bit, protecting marine
wildlife". Gibbs, a marine scientist from Queensland, works with coral reef restoration
when not on the high seas helping out at the Paul Watson
Foundation.
In 2022, Mr. DeJoria also donated funds for the
purchase of a former Scottish Fisheries Patrol vessel now named the
John Paul DeJoria. The activists will be taking the ship to
Iceland this summer to oppose the
illegal hunting of endangered Fin whales. The John Paul DeJoria
will then reposition to Australia
to join the Bandero at the end of year for the campaign to defend
whales in the Southern Ocean.
"The Captain Paul Watson Foundation was
established in September 2022, but
the passion, courage, and imagination that built our reputation
continues with a new name, new ships, and the original objectives
and strategies developed by Captain Paul
Watson over decades of non-violent direct action" stated
Haans Siver, Australian Director of
CPWF based in the Sunshine Coast.
At the time of writing, the NORTHERN HORIZON
remains at anchor in the Derwent River pending a review by Tasports
of their berthing fee at Princes Wharf in Hobart for clearance, and
a safety assessment allowing the vessel to proceed to its berth at
Prince of Wales Bay Marina.
Notes to media:
Video footage and photos here
Images Credit: CPWF
ABOUT CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON FOUNDATION: The
Captain Paul Foundation, founded in
2022 by esteemed environmental and conservation activist
Paul Watson, co-founder of
Greenpeace and founder of Sea Shepherd, alongside tech entrepreneur
Omar Todd, is a US-based non-profit
dedicated to marine conservation. Committed to halting habitat
destruction and wildlife slaughter in the world's oceans, the
foundation aims to safeguard marine ecosystems and species. It uses
innovative direct-action tactics to expose and confront illegal
activities at sea. Visit www.paulwatsonfoundation.org for more
information.
For media inquiries please contact Locky
MacLean at locky@neptunes.navy (+61) 0451572015 or Paul Watson at captain@paulwatson.com
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SOURCE The Captain Paul Watson Foundation