Smith warns against whaling clashes
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has reminded anti-whaling activists that an Australian customs ship is no longer in Antarctic waters to resolve any incidents with Japanese whalers.
Mr Smith called on both protest ships and whaling vessels to exercise restraint now the Oceanic Viking is no longer monitoring the Japanese whale hunt.
The Viking last month helped end a standoff by transferring two Sea Shepherd activists held on a Japanese vessel they boarded back to the Steve Irwin protest ship.
The Steve Irwin is sailing back to the whaling zone after undergoing repairs and refuelling in Melbourne, with captain Paul Watson threatening to cause another international incident.
"The Oceanic Viking has now ceased its whaling monitoring operation and has been redeployed to other duties elsewhere," Mr Smith said in a statement.
"Neither protest nor whaling vessels can in any way assume that the Australian government will be in a position to respond immediately in the event of any serious incident," he said.
Mr Smith said the government strongly opposed the whaling but did not condone violence or unsafe actions which put lives at risk.
"Weather and sea conditions in the Southern Ocean, and the very long distances involved, mean that the area is an inherently dangerous one in which to operate."
Captain Watson this week said his crew were prepared to make a citizens arrest of members of the Japanese fleet to uphold international conservation law.
"We need to create another international incident," he said in statement on Monday.
"Lack of enforcement by Australia and other nations is forcing Sea Shepherd to implement risky measures to stop the deadly harpoons.
"I cannot stomach this slaughter of these gentle giants any longer - if it means pushing the envelope, we are ready and willing to take the risks."
© 2008
AAP
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