News > News > Sea Shepherd applaudes City's stance

Sea Shepherd applaudes City's stance

Media Release

For immediate release                                          March 30, 2009

       Sea Shepherd recognises City’s  fight against whaling

Sea Shepherd Australian director and crewman Jeff Hansen applauded the City of Fremantle for its  contribution to the fight against illegal whaling at an informal meeting in Fremantle on Friday 27 March where he presented the Mayor Peter Tagliaferri with thankyou gifts.    

Jeff handed over the award along with framed pictures taken of the crew and its vessel to the Mayor at the get-together outside the Fremantle Maritime Museum in front of news crews from the Channel 9, the Fremantle Gazette and the West Australian.

Mr Hansen spoke warmly of Fremantle’s long association with the anti-whaling vessel. He explained the award recognised that in January 2009, Peter Tagliaferri wrote a letter successfully urging Indonesian Mayor of Surabaya Banbang Dwi Hartono and the Port officials not to repair propeller damage to the Japanese whaling vessel, Yashin Maru #2.

The incident started around 20 December 2008, when the Yashin Maru #2 clashed with anti-whaling vessel, The Steve Irwin in the Antarctic Ocean. Suffering damage, the Yashin Maru #2 bypassed Australian and New Zealand to eventually dock in Indonesia.

Australia currently denies Japanese whaling vessels access to its ports except in cases of genuine distress.

The Mayor further lobbied Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to intervene in violent clashes between whalers and the Sea Shepherd before Australian lives were lost.  

The Sea Shepherd will shortly undertake repairs before continuing its international anti-whaling campaign.  

For more information contact:

Lawrence Buchanan

City of Fremantle

Media Relations Assistant

T: 94329 832

E: Lawrenceb@fremantle.wa.gov.au