Whale Wars was a real-life TV show that looked like a documentary. It first aired on November 7, 2008, on the Animal Planet cable TV channel. The program followed Paul Watson, who started the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, as he and his team tried to stop Japanese whalers from killing whales near Antarctica.
The show caused a lot of debate. Some people called Sea Shepherd eco-terrorists. Others said their actions were needed to show that Japan was illegally killing whales while pretending it was for research.
History
In 2007, Discovery Channel started making a reality show that followed the work of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society during their efforts to stop Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary near Antarctica. Japan says its whaling activities are legal research, but Sea Shepherd and others argue this is a way to hide illegal commercial whaling. Sea Shepherd has faced both praise and criticism for using direct action tactics, such as throwing stink bombs filled with butyric acid, ramming, boarding, and trying to disable Japanese ships.
The show first aired on November 7, 2008, on Animal Planet. It documents events on the ship MY Steve Irwin as the group works to stop the hunting of minke, humpback, and fin whales in the Southern Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic. The program was released during a time when Animal Planet was changing its brand to reach more viewers and compete with other types of programming.
On November 6, 2014, Animal Planet announced a special three-part episode that aired on December 28, 2014, as part of its "Month-Long Freeview" event.
Synopsis
The 2007–08 Antarctic campaign was named Operation Migaloo, after the only known albino humpback whale in the world. This campaign was the focus of the first season of Whale Wars, which began on November 7, 2008.
On January 15, 2008, two members of Sea Shepherd, Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane, boarded the Japanese whaling vessel Yushin Maru No. 2 from an inflatable boat. They delivered a letter to the Japanese crew, stating that they were "whaling illegally" and hoping to create an international incident. The Japanese responded by saying the men would be held until Sea Shepherd stopped what they called "dangerous and illegal activities."
The crew of the Yushin Maru No. 2 kept the men for two days before handing them over to the Australian customs vessel MV Oceanic Viking, as ordered by Japanese authorities. Later, the Steve Irwin met the Oceanic Viking, and the two crew members were returned to Sea Shepherd.
On March 3, Sea Shepherd members threw bottles filled with a strong-smelling liquid and packages of slippery powder onto the Japanese vessel Nisshin Maru. Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith criticized Sea Shepherd’s actions for possibly harming people. The Japanese government asked Australian and Dutch ambassadors to urge their countries to stop violence. Paul Watson, a Sea Shepherd leader, said, "They are so full of crap. We filmed and photographed the entire thing. Not a single thing landed anywhere near their crew… It is their way of trying to get sympathy."
The International Whaling Commission issued a statement on March 8, 2008, asking Sea Shepherd to stop actions that risked safety at sea. It also reminded all parties to act responsibly. The Australian government called for calm and respectful behavior in the Southern Ocean.
On March 17, 2008, Paul Watson claimed he was shot by the Japanese crew or coast guard during the campaign. This event was shown in the final episode of Whale Wars, with earlier episodes building up to it. Footage shows Watson standing on the Steve Irwin as crew members threw glass bottles filled with the strong-smelling liquid at the Nisshin Maru. The Japanese responded by using loud and bright devices. Watson then said, "I’ve been hit," and a metal piece was found inside his bullet-proof vest. The Institute of Cetacean Research denied Sea Shepherd’s claims, saying the devices used were harmless. Neither side’s story has been confirmed by an independent source. The Australian Foreign Affairs Department condemned any actions that caused harm.
The 2008/09 Antarctic campaign was named Operation Musashi, after a 17th-century Japanese strategist. On December 4, 2008, actress Daryl Hannah joined Sea Shepherd’s crew on the Steve Irwin for this season.
On February 6, 2009, Watson said the Steve Irwin collided with the Yūshin Maru No. 2 while trying to block the transfer of a dead whale to the factory ship Nisshin Maru. He explained that the collision was unavoidable because the Japanese vessel moved suddenly. The Japanese blamed Sea Shepherd for the crash, calling it a "deliberate ramming." The event was filmed for Whale Wars and was part of a larger conflict where Sea Shepherd tried to stop Japanese whalers from hunting whales. The Japanese used LRADs to scare Sea Shepherd. They were also accused of aiming the devices at the Steve Irwin’s helicopter, which was only filming.
At the start of the campaign, Marjorie Kaplan, president of Animal Planet, said in a statement: "The issues surrounding whaling in the Southern Ocean are important and complex. The majesty of these beautiful creatures and the lengths to which the Sea Shepherds will go to prevent whaling has made Whale Wars intense and vital television." She also said Japan had refused requests to film on their vessels.
In June 2009, Sea Shepherd announced its 2009/10 Antarctic campaign, named Operation Waltzing Matilda. The campaign included the Ady Gil, a ship that held a world record for traveling around the globe by motorized vessel. The ship usually used fuel made from animal fat, soybeans, or other plant-based sources but had to switch to petroleum diesel for operational reasons. The ship’s operator, Pete Bethune, said an agreement was made for the Ady Gil to support Sea Shepherd’s efforts.
In December 2009, Paul Watson and his crew of 40 left from Fremantle, Australia, aboard the Steve Irwin. The Ady Gil left from Hobart, Tasmania. It was widely known that Sea Shepherd had added more ships to match the Japanese whaling fleet. However, it was not publicly shared that Bob Barker, a famous TV host, donated money to buy a third ship for Sea Shepherd. The ship, a former Norwegian whaling vessel, was renamed MY Bob Barker and refitted. It was stationed near Mauritius until it joined the campaign.
On January 6, 2010, the Ady Gil was hit by the Japanese security vessel Shonan Maru No. 2. The ship was split in two and later sank.
Cast
The cast of Whale Wars changes each season. This list includes only the captains of the ships shown in the series and the people who boarded Japanese ships during the series.
Critical reception
Whale Wars became popular on the channel and received mostly positive feedback. The president and general manager of Animal Planet mentioned that the show was a "great example of where we wanted to go into competitive adult TV." A website that collects reviews, called Metacritic, gave Whale Wars a score of 71 out of 100 based on 6 reviews. Neil Genzlinger from the New York Times wrote: "Whale Wars stands out in the crowded category of reality shows about people working by showing fresh and exciting ideas. It is an energetic and lively show."
Some people criticized the show for being biased, and the Sea Shepherd crew was mocked in some reviews. Nancy Dewolf Smith from The Wall Street Journal wrote: "At first, it is surprising how unprepared many of the people on the show are for their mission to protect the planet. Although the show often mentions the dangers the crew faces in the Antarctic seas, their own mistakes can seem even more concerning."
The show was also parodied by the satirists of South Park in the 11th episode of season 13, where they called it "Whale Whores." In the episode, when a character named Stan Marsh takes control of a ship, a fictional news headline reads: "Whale Wars Gets Better: Things Actually Happen!" David Hinckley from the New York Daily News wrote: "Because the cameras are only on the conservation ship, we see all the drama from one side and almost none from the other." Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of Animal Planet, stated that they have asked for permission to film on the Japanese ships but have been refused each time.
Spin-offs
In March 2012, Animal Planet introduced a new five-part series called Whale Wars: Viking Shores. The show followed Sea Shepherd's efforts to stop traditional whaling in the Faroe Islands. This mission was called "Operation Ferocious Isles" by Sea Shepherd. The series began showing on April 27, 2012. Before this, there was a one-episode documentary named Operation Bluefin. This film showed Sea Shepherd trying to stop what they said was illegal fishing of Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean Sea during the Libyan Civil War in 2011. Another documentary, Seal Wars, showed Sea Shepherd members trying to stop seal hunting on Namibian beaches. This documentary was shown on June 8, 2012, before the second episode of the fifth season of Whale Wars.