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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Radical environmentalists have been found in contempt of court for continuing their campaign against Japanese whalers to disrupt the annual whale hunt off the waters of Antarctica.
In 2012, the court ordered the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to stay at least 500 feet from Japanese whalers and to halt dangerous activities like attempting to ram the whalers and throwing smoke bombs and bottles of acid at their ships. The Sea Shepherd crews also drag metal-reinforced ropes in the water to damage propellers and rudders, launch flares with hooks, and point high-powered lasers at the whalers.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered a commissioner to determine how much the group and its founder owe the whalers for lawyer fees, damage to their ships and for violating the court order to stop their dangerous protests.
The Japanese whalers are demanding $2 million in addition to their attorney fees, damage and the cost of warding off the protests.
Sea Shepherd says it is disappointed with the ruling and considering its legal options.
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APPHOTO FX102: File - This Nov. 6, 2013 file photo shows anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, center, founder of the Oregon-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, as he listens during a contempt of court hearing in federal court in Seattle. Radical environmentalists have been found in contempt of court for failing to heed an order to halt their relentless campaign to disrupt the annual whale hunt off the waters of Antarctica. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014 ordered a lower court to determine how much Watson and members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society owe Japanese whalers. (AP Photo/Karen Ducey, Pool, file) (19 Dec 2014)
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APPHOTO FX103: File - In this Feb. 20, 2013 file photo provided by Sea Shepherd Australia, the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru, right, collides with the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin in waters near Antarctica. Radical environmentalists have been found in contempt of court for failing to heed an order to halt their relentless campaign to disrupt the annual whale hunt off the waters of Antarctica. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014 ordered a lower court to determine how much Paul Watson and members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society he founded owe Japanese whalers. (AP Photo/Sea Shepherd Australia, Tim Watters, File) EDITORIAL USE ONLY (20 Feb 2013)
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