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By OWEN PYE | Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010 9:27 pm | Comments
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In this photo released by the Institute of Cetacean Research of Japan, anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd's ship the Bob Barker, right, and the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru No.3 collide in the waters of Antarctica Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. It was the second major clash this year in the increasingly aggressive confrontations between conservationists and the whaling fleet. (AP Photo/Institute of Cetacean Research)
Three crew members of a Japanese whaling vessel suffered face and eye injuries from acid fired by anti-whaling protesters during their latest clash in the Antarctic Ocean, their Japanese employers said Friday.
The Sea Shepherd protesters said they lobbed butyric acid, produced from stinking rancid butter, which they often aim at the whalers to try to disrupt the annual Japanese hunt. The activists maintain that butyric acid is nontoxic.
The injuries sustained Thursday were the first to Japanese whalers this year during confrontations with Sea Shepherd, although there have been two ship collisions for which each side blamed the other.
Japan's Fisheries Minister Hirotaka Akamatsu lashed out at the activists on Friday, telling reporters: "I am full of rage. I could not believe they did such a thing."
Glenn Inwood, spokesman for Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research, said the injuries were not serious, but he cautioned that butyric acid can cause temporary blindness.
The injuries occurred during a confrontation of several hours between two Sea Shepherd boats _ the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker _ and four Japanese vessels.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said that the activists' actions were unforgivable. "Thank God it did not result in serious injuries, but it is extremely regrettable," he told reporters.
Locky Maclean, first mate on the Steve Irwin, told The Associated Press that the acidic substance thrown was rancid butter.
"It's a harmless liquid," he said. "You can handle it, and it's not corrosive."
Maclean said the Nisshin Maru, a factory ship, started the altercation when it turned its water cannons on the activists' vessels. He said the ship's military acoustic device was also aimed directly at the Sea Shepherd's helicopter pilot.
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In this photo released by the Institute of Cetacean Research of Japan, anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd's ship the Bob Barker, right, and the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru No.3 collide in the waters of Antarctica Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. It was the second major clash this year in the increasingly aggressive confrontations between conservationists and the whaling fleet. (AP Photo/Institute of Cetacean Research)
Three crew members of a Japanese whaling vessel suffered face and eye injuries from acid fired by anti-whaling protesters during their latest clash in the Antarctic Ocean, their Japanese employers said Friday.
The Sea Shepherd protesters said they lobbed butyric acid, produced from stinking rancid butter, which they often aim at the whalers to try to disrupt the annual Japanese hunt. The activists maintain that butyric acid is nontoxic.
The injuries sustained Thursday were the first to Japanese whalers this year during confrontations with Sea Shepherd, although there have been two ship collisions for which each side blamed the other.
Japan's Fisheries Minister Hirotaka Akamatsu lashed out at the activists on Friday, telling reporters: "I am full of rage. I could not believe they did such a thing."
Glenn Inwood, spokesman for Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research, said the injuries were not serious, but he cautioned that butyric acid can cause temporary blindness.
The injuries occurred during a confrontation of several hours between two Sea Shepherd boats _ the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker _ and four Japanese vessels.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said that the activists' actions were unforgivable. "Thank God it did not result in serious injuries, but it is extremely regrettable," he told reporters.
Locky Maclean, first mate on the Steve Irwin, told The Associated Press that the acidic substance thrown was rancid butter.
"It's a harmless liquid," he said. "You can handle it, and it's not corrosive."
Maclean said the Nisshin Maru, a factory ship, started the altercation when it turned its water cannons on the activists' vessels. He said the ship's military acoustic device was also aimed directly at the Sea Shepherd's helicopter pilot.
