Both sides blame each other for collision - Audio

JD Many studies realized by scientific committee of IWC indicate that there are about 300,000 minke whales in the southern ocean and many scientists believe that the number is decreasing. The Institute of Cetacean Research itself says that minke whales do not increase in number.

I saw the Japanese video, before this version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbuq0YEIPNU was put on youtube. The original clearly shows a sudden course change by the whaling boat. The japanese edited version (which you can tell is edited from the sudden zoom at 5 seconds, where the picture becomes suspiciously still, then zooms back at 18 seconds) is clearly a version to hide their course change. They rammed the Ady Gil. If you still doubt it, check the video from a boat in front: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbuq0YEIPNU Thats a ramming, no doubt in my mind. Besides, they were on the starboard side and, to my knowledge, they are supposed to give way. The interesting thing is now the japanese are starting to claim a "navigational error" occurred on their boat just before the collision. Paah-leease.

JD people in glass houses shouldnt throw stones. You can call it Commercial Whaling you can call it Scientific Research. At the end of the day Whales are continuing to be slaughtered.

Glenn Inwood was on Australian Radio this morning and when asked about how long the whales take to die, he said "about 80% of them die instantly..." he went on to say "effectively you're HUNTING a wild animal, only in the sea".

Who else believes that when a whale is harpooned, it dies instantly. And if this is research, wouldn't you be "tracking" rather than "hunting"?

Missy Moo, you really do need to do some research before making such emotional claims. Scientific estimates on Minke whale numbers in the Southern Oceans alone, is upward of 1.1 million, this census was carried out in the late eighties. There has been no commercial whaling in the Southern Oceans since that time, so this number over the past 20 years has likely increased significantly. So I'm a bit confused as to how you think in 20 years time, the entire population could be made extinct, due to the Japanese taking 1,000 each year. Naturally, the increased numbers from breading would be 10 times that taken by the whalers, show me any other fishing or commercial enterprise that can match that for sustainability. Interesting how several maritime accident investigators came to the same conclusion, that it was the Ady Gil at fault in the collision. But I guess the armchair experts watching the clip on TV, know more than the experts, or will they claim this is some secret covert conspiracy being pay rolled by the nips.

if anyone puts a car in the way of a train, this would happen, the skipper of the boat should be ashamed of himself, intentionly putting his crew in deaths way,the skipper should be charged with attempted manslaughter, time to give the game away boys before you kill someone, start giving the money you get for these death trips to charity, how about giving it to starving kids instead and change the lives of living humans who need it??

They Kill whales is anyone suprised they are now trying to Kill humans?

You do not ram another boat in the open ocean especially one which is stationary.

John V: So it is ok to deliberately attempt to foul another boats propellor in the middle of the ocean? Case not closed.

It seems that it would be fairly easy for an 18 ton vessel purposely built for setting the world speed record for circumnavigating the globe to place itself directly in the path of a much larger and much less maneuverable 1000 ton vessel and situate itself so the larger vessel would be approaching it from the smaller vessel's port side. This would be akin to the driver of a sports car speeding in front of a 18-wheeler then stopping in front of it with the expectation that the truck would maneuver around it. The captain of the Ady Gil took an unnecessary chance with his vessel and the lives of his crew. He was lucky that only his boat was damaged.

The Sea Shepherd group have been at this for 30 years. What have they achieved? It seems to me that general opinion is turning in favour of the Japanese & their right to kill whales. This group is doing much more harm than good. Let's say the Sea Shepherd group has received donations of around one million dollars a year (this is probably pretty conservative). Over 30 years, 30 mil. Imagine how many Japanese kids could have been taken to Hawaii for a whale watching tour with that sort of money. Kids see the whales, tell all their friends how amazing whales are, kids grow up, tell their kids & so on. Eventually whale meat is off the menu. I agree with their aim, but totally disagree with their approach. Paul Watsons ego needs to be checked, along with his bank balance.

Say what you want to say. View this video to see the Japanese ship clearly turn into the Sea Shepards.I don't care which side you are on, you DO NOT ram into another ship. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/01/06/lah.japan.whaling.ship.collision.cnn
The Japanese boat was wrong and actions should be taken against them, case closed.