Sea Shepherd Australia News

At 2:50 p.m. (AEDT) today the captain of the Sea Shepherd Australia ship The Bob Barker, Peter Hammarstedt, reported his ship had just crossed into Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) 200 miles off Macquarie Island, but a pursuing Japanese whale harpoon ship, Yushin Maru No. 3, has stopped one mile outside the zone. Federal Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt had been in touch with the Japanese authorities over the impending invasion of the Australian Whale Sanctuary, which includes the EEZ, by the harpoon ship.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) surveyors inspect Sea Shepherd Australia’s 'Sam Simon' and interview crew in Williamstown. AMSA's interest stems from reports of a number of alleged incidents in the Southern Ocean in February 2013. 'Sam Simon' is the only Australian-flagged (registered) vessel involved in the reported incidents which included reports of collisions and pollution by vessels and is subject to Australian law. The investigation will include an inspection of the Sam Simon, examination of available documents and records, and interviews with crew.