The importance of saving whales was the topic of discussion at a lecture by conservationist and animal activist Matt Kimura in the Hinde Auditorium Wednesday.
The lecture, hosted by the Environmental Students Organization, was part of Earth Week festivities. Kimura's work aboard the sea vessel "Sea Shepherd" was made famous by the Animal Planet television show, "Whale Wars."
As a member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Kimura and his colleagues sail the Antarctic Ocean in an effort to stop whale poaching. On the television series, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society engages a Japanese whaling fleet on a regular basis.
Using a fleet of three ships, the objective of the group is to make it difficult for whale poachers to hunt whales in the Antarctic waters.
"The Bob Barker, named after the television host who donated 5 million to the society, is a pretty rusty and ugly ship. Ironically, it is an old Norwegian whaling ship that has large fuel tanks that allows us to stay at sea for three months at a time," Kimura said.
According to founder Paul Watson, the group prevented the death of some 900 whales in the past year.
In order for the group to get the upper hand on the whaling fleet, Kimura said the Sea Shepherd fleet uses special tactics to evade detection.
"On a most recent trip, we met up with our flag ship, "Steve Irwin,' docked in the island nation Mauritius, off the southeast coast of Africa. When we left the country, we did not fly any of our colors. This was so we would not be detected and our location given away to the whaling fleet," Kimura said.
The society usually flies a black flag with a white skull adorned by a hook and trident.
Kimura said all the individuals that work with him are dedicated to conservation.
"On board the Sea Shepherd, we have a crew of 26 volunteers from all over the world. And all the members of the crew are united under one cause, and that is to stop the whaling in Antarctica," Kimura said.
President of the Environmental Students Organization Laurel Rhodes, senior environmental studies major, said keeping whale populations alive will keep oceans brimming with sea life.
"It is very important to protect the species of our oceans, including the large ones as well. A lot of over fishing has caused a great decline in the oceans fish population," Rhodes said. "If you take the top predators out of an ecosystem, you can really upset the natural balance. It is important to protect the large organisms that live in the oceans and maintain the natural biodiversity."
DeAnthony Jones, a freshman government major, said listening to the lecture opened his eyes to the whale poaching problem.
"It is funny; my cousin watches the show more than I do. But, just being here today make me want go home and watch the series on Netflix tonight," Jones said. "Just hearing what he had to say today really makes me want to get involved more."
For John Haas, senior business major, whale poaching was just something he saw on television that did not coincide with his own life.
"It (felt) more like a distant fantasy land," Haas said. "But, seeing a member of the Sea Shepherd crew reminds me that these sorts of things really do happen in our world, and not stuck in seven minute clips between Tide commercials."
Matt Harrington can be reached at [email protected]
