Whale war escalates

The captain of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s recently sunken Ady Gil is being held prisoner after he secretly boarded an illegal Japanese whaler in an effort to make a citizen’s arrest and present a bill for his damaged ship.

In mid-February, New Zealand Capt. Pete Bethune (pictured) successfully boarded the Japanese whaler Shonan Maru 2 in an attempt to make a citizen’s arrest for the destruction of the Ady Gil and attempted murder of its crew members.

Bethune successfully boarded the Japanese whaler in the middle of the night after making a jump from a jet ski and climbing aboard unnoticed. He also brought a bill of $3 million to present to the ship’s master for the cost of the sunken Ady Gil.

In response, the Japanese government has taken Bethune prisoner and plans to try him in Japanese court on unknown charges.