The Japanese whaling fleet has returned to port unhappy that their quota of whale kill was down by half. I am very happy that the other half survived but I will not be truly happy until they can all survive. It is a brief respite in the ongoing battle between conservationists, the greater part of the population with a moral conscience and the Japanese Whale Killers who are principally interested in turning whales into food.
I applaud the efforts of everyone involved in deterring the Japanese Whale slaughter.
I would like you to consider that this year Josie is leading a group of 20 divers aboard MV Spoilsport to dive with the Minke Whales when they arrive at the Great Barrier Reef in June. Next year I am leading a group to Tonga to dive with the Humpback whales and calves when they arrive in September. These are the same whales that are targeted by the Japanese in Antarctica during summer.
Last year Josie’s Minke Whale group had the immense privilege of diving with up to 20 Minke Whales, one whale in particular is named Pavlova due to the way she pirouettes in front of snorkellers. Pavlova is beautiful and you can read about her in our club stories.
What a tragedy if, when Josie and her group arrive this year, Pavlova is missing, turned into sushi!
Some great news however is the release of a stunning Imax 3 D film, Whales and Dolphins, Tribes of the Oceans. Cherie and I attended the premier release at the invitation of Rob Torelli, a friend of mine and the cameraman who shot all the amazing humpback whale segments for the film during the annual whale migration to Tonga last year.
Cherie and I sat in the audience totally enthralled with the images on screen. At one point I could not resist reaching out to touch the flipper of a 30-ton humpback whose virtual image hung before my eyes. I urge everyone to go and see this film, you will be amazed, enlightened and I promise, inspired to sign up on our trip to Tonga next year.
I am delighted to say that due to the efforts of the protestors and Sea Shepherd all of the Humpbacks in the film survived. I cannot say the same for the Minke Whales.
