Vic: Conservation groups hail efforts to stop whaling a success

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2008
Vic: Conservation groups hail efforts to stop whaling a success

Conservation groups are hailing their anti-whaling action in the Southern Ocean a success
.. as Japanese whalers return home with half their expected catch.

Greenpeace spent 15 days chasing the Nisshin Maru Japanese whaling ship .. while Sea
Shepherd crews kept the pressure on the whalers for several months.

Greenpeace boss STEVE SHALLHORN says the Japanese only killed half their whaling quota
.. which shows the power of protest.

He's told the Nine Network the Japanese realised pictures of their actions were driving
worldwide protests to end whaling .. and the practice could soon stop as support for it
wanes in their own country as well.

Sea Shepherd captain PAUL WATSON says they helped save 483 whales .. at a cost to the
Japanese of about 70 million dollars.

The International Whaling Commission is expected to discuss the Japanese whaling issue
in June at its annual meeting to be held in Chile.

AAP RTV md/gfr/jmt

KEYWORD: WHALING GREENPEACE (MELBOURNE)

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