Greenpeace "stops loading of whales’

Press, 31 January 1989, Page 16

Greenpeace "stops loading of whales’

NZPA-Reuter Sydney The Greenpeace conservation group said yesterday it stopped slaughtered whales being loaded aboard a Japanese whaler in the Antarctic. ' The Greenpeace ship Gondwana positioned itself tight on the stem of the whaler, denying a Japanese catcher craft use of the slipway where slaughtered mammals are drawn, Greenpeace said. “At present Greenpeace is maintaining its position and ho more whales have been able to be . loaded,” Greenpeace’s, spokesman,

Mr Peter Wilkinson, said. During the week-end fire hoses were turned on Greenpeace workers in inflatable motorboats who were trying to prevent the harpooning of minke whales. The Japanese whalers said the project was a scientific exercise permitted under International Whaling Commission rules to assess the number of minkes. Mr Wilkinson said about 10 minkes were harpooned in spite of the group’s efforts, which, began seven days ago.