Interpac Business and Migration Solutions Melbourne Australia

January 6, 2010

The captain of an anti-whaling protest ship has backed reports that Japanese whalers have been chartering Australian planes to track the ship's movements in the Southern Ocean.

Fairfax newspapers are reporting that a public relations company linked to Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research chartered planes in Hobart and Albany to track the Sea Shepherd's ship, the Steve Irwin, in December.

The Steve Irwin's captain, Paul Watson, says he believes those on board the plane reported his ship's position to a Japanese whale chasing boat.

"We did notice the plane in December; we thought it was an Australian Government plane so we didn't take very much notice of it," he said.

"But then six hours later the Japanese vessel Shonan Maru showed up and got on our tail and we couldn't shake them for three weeks."

Federal Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says the Government should investigate the flights and put a stop to them.

"What we have here is spy flights, which are helping to breach international law, being conducted from Australian airports under the guise and under the nose of the Australian Government," he said.

"It is time that the flights are stopped and the Prime Minister and [Environment Minister Peter] Garrett must step in to end the practice."

Greens leader Bob Brown says the Federal Government should be sending its own surveillance vessels to track whalers.

"It's outrageous that the Japanese have stolen such a march on the conflict between the whaling protesters and the whale slaughterers," he said.

"And the Australian Government is doing nothing about it and is allowing Australian facilities to be used against the whale protesters."

The Federal Government says it has seen the reports.

A spokesman for the Environment Minister says the Government notes that the Southern Ocean is one of the most dangerous and inhospitable regions in the world.

It is calling on all parties to act safely and responsibly.

(Source from ABC News)