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Sea Shepherd Crew Attacked By Mob Of Seal Hunters

Sea Shepherd Supporter | 06.04.2008 18:01 | Animal Liberation | Ocean Defence | Repression | World

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship, the Farley Mowat, was attacked this morning by a mob of 30-40 angry fishermen. The attack took place while berthed in the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. The Farley Mowat was berthed in St. Pierre to transfer video footage of the Canadian seal slaughter onto shore and await the resumption of the slaughter, which was temporarily suspended after the death of four sealers.

Tensions quickly escalated in St. Pierre as the growing mob hurled rocks, threats, and insults at crew members of the Farley Mowat. Cameraman Simeon Houtman was assaulted by an axe-wielding fisherman after stepping onshore to film the incident. "The fisherman raised the axe above his head with one arm and tried to knock Simeon back with his other. Simeon jumped back onto the ship just before the mob threw our gangplank into the water," said Peter Hammarstedt, First Officer of the Farley Mowat.

Also on the newswire: Interview With Captain Onboard Sea Shepherd Ship On Current Seal Hunt | Canadian Coast Guard Rams Sea Shepherd Ship (twice) | Sea Shepherd Moves In On Canadian Seal Slaughter

Police standing around while sealers cut rope
Police standing around while sealers cut rope

Cutting line and gangplank are thrown into the water
Cutting line and gangplank are thrown into the water


Captain Alex Cornelissen requested assistance from the French police--at least half a dozen of whom were present at the scene--but they did nothing to defend the ship or crew against the mob. Instead, the police suggested that Sea Shepherd should leave St. Pierre immediately. Captain Cornelissen explained to the police that it would take some time to warm the engines in order to leave port safely and avoid serious engine damage. He requested protection during that time, but the police did nothing other than stand by and watch as fishermen hacked at the mooring lines of the Farley Mowat with an axe and ripped the gangplank from the ship, setting it dangerously adrift into the harbor. After the mob severed head and bow-spring lines from the bollards, Sea Shepherd crew members scurried to pull in lines and prevent them from drifting back towards the screw or into the bowthruster. “The mob responded with a rain of stones and rocks that were thrown with the intent to injure,” said Hammarstedt.

Without engine power, the Farley Mowat drifted uncontrollably in serious danger of crashing into nearby rocks and/or ships in the harbor. Captain Cornelissen had no choice but to start the engines cold--risking irreparable damage--in order to avoid a potentially lethal collision. Although the Farley Mowat was able to escape the hostile crowd at St. Pierre, the extent of engine damage sustained remains undetermined. Fortunately, all crew members were on board during the attack, and no-one was injured.

Previous features: Nottingham Activist Returns From Whale Saving Mission In Antartica | Injured Among Sea Shepherd Crew As Japanese Military Open Fire | Activists Held Hostage By Japanese Whalers In Southern Ocean

Sea Shepherd Supporter
- Homepage: http://www.seashepherd.org/

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

what a bunch of dodgy fish mingers

06.04.2008 18:25

what a bunch of dodgy fish mingers, police there proved what a biased bunch useless asses they can sometimes be. They could adapt & newter the seals, people love them & local tourism would boom

James


Proposed EU ban on seal slaughter

06.04.2008 18:56

repost


Seal of Disapproval...

06.04.2008 20:35

Who says Neanderthal Man is dead?

He's alive and well and killing Seals for a fast buck.

As for the Gendarme, well, they're the the same the world over, whatever their name.

Whatever


Greenpeace: "We're non-violent unlike Sea Shepherd"

07.04.2008 03:55

On BBC News 24's compilation of dispatches from Jonah Fisher aboard a Greenpeace ship, broadcast last night, he reported on how Sea Shepherd crew boarded a Japanese ship and then were captured. He quoted Greenpeace as then stressing that their main difference from Sea Shepherd was that they (Greenpeace) believed in "non-violent" direct action.

The Greenpeace actions included filming, displaying a large notice in Japanese meaning "false" in response to a Japanese vessel's notice in English saying "research" or something similar, and delaying the refuelling of a Japanese ship by a fuel carrier by sending a manned inflatable between them.

Strepsil


Greenpeace paintjob

07.04.2008 08:03

Greenpeace also refused to head out again for a second go at the whalers. they claimed that having a paint job on their ship was more important than stopping whales being killed. They had got their media coverage for the year and donations flooding in so why should they bother?

Sea Shepherd has virtually no money but got just enough to send the ship out for a 3rd time. Caught the whalers and stopped them for another 2 weeks! I know where my money will be going in future!

Whippy


Seals are at 6 million

10.04.2008 01:08

Newter seals how funny!! That is the funniest way I have ever heard of controlling the seal population! Who are you Bob Barker?? Some people have no clue! Also you must realize there is Bias in all we write. Especially from the uninformed and ignorant!!!!!!!

D


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