[shortonsense]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonsense', 'W')ell, I'm thinking that international pressure, for starters, on the countries which flag the Fleet of Impotence. With luck they'll get at least some classes in "Remedial Boat Handling" or some such? This improvement alone might clean up the "moron" quotient, a simple class in .. "don't park lightweight carbon fiber in front of steel battering rams" perhaps?

[shortonsense]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '
')So you are going to create an independent coalition of whalers who are going to slap embargo on the United States? Good luck with that.

[yeahbut]

Definitely time to revive this thread. For that special, special character formerly known as shorty, who struggled so hard, but sadly failed, to grasp the idea that the anti-whaling protesters were not ineffectual gadflies but actually hurt the whalers financially, spoilt their 'scientific research' and saved a lot of whales:



$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')apan has recalled its whaling fleet from the Antarctic following confrontations with activists from the Sea Shepherd marine conservation group, the government has said, in a move that has raised hopes that the hunts will be halted altogether.

The decision to cut short this year's hunt is a further blow to the industry, which has been the target of international pressure and revelations of corruption at home.

The agriculture minister, Michihiko Kano, said the hunt, which was due to last until the middle of March, had been called off because of safety concerns.

"We had no choice but to end the season to ensure the safety of lives, assets and our ships," he told reporters. Asked if Japan would resume whaling next winter, Kano said: "We'll examine the situation in detail and then come to a decision."

Sea Shepherd's founder, Paul Watson, described the announcement as a victory for anti-whaling activists.

"Every year we've gotten stronger," he told Associated Press from the Steve Irwin, one of three boats the group has in the Antarctic. "We had better equipment, we had a long-range helicopter. Really, it came down to having more resources."

The Japanese government routinely condemns Sea Shepherd as a terrorist organisation, claiming its tactics have put crew members' lives at risk. But Watson said: "We haven't committed any crimes. We haven't hurt anybody."

Australia, a vocal critic of the whale hunts, welcomed the move. "I'm glad this season is over, and Australia doesn't believe there should ever be another whaling season again," the environment minister, Tony Burke, said.

Last year Australia filed a complaint with the international court of justice in The Hague in an attempt to get the hunts banned. A decision is expected in 2013 at the earliest.

The Japanese fleet had targeted a catch of 850 whales this season, but will return with about one-fifth of that, the agriculture ministry said. Sea Shepherd claimed it had kept the fleet's haul to below 100 whales, its lowest ever catch.

Japan kills about 1,000 whales every year, using a clause in the International Whaling Commission's 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling that allows it to engage in "lethal research" into whale populations.

The meat from the hunts is sold on the open market, but weak consumer interest has created a stockpile of more than 6,000 tonnes, according to a recent report by the Japan-based Dolphin and Whale Action Network.