Be: Anti-whaling ships say they have been made "pirates"

Friday, February 02, 2007
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Anti-whaling ships say they have been made "pirates"

Fri Feb 2, 12:06 AM ET

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An anti-whaling group searching Antarctic waters for a Japanese whaling fleet with the aim of disrupting its operations said both its vessels will soon be "pirate ships" following a decision by Britain to deregister one its vessels.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which has offered a $25,000 reward for the location of the Japanese fleet, said Britain was acting on a request by Tokyo after its flagship, the Farley Mowat, was deregistered by Belize.

"We haven't broken any law or regulation, but now we're not registered anywhere -- we're technically a pirate ship without a flag," said Captain Paul Watson from the Farley Mowat.

"It means that we could be attacked and confiscated at will by any nation including the Japanese," he said.

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Labels: anti-whaling