GOLD Coast tourists are being asked to help fund a new anti-whaling vessel to fight Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean.
The fledgling Gold Coast Whale Watch and Conservation Association has formed an alliance with the militant US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which clashed fiercely with Japanese whalers last summer.
The association – an industry watchdog comprising the Gold Coast's leading whale watching operators – is organising a Whale Protection Day on September 30 to boost the society's coffers.
The society is buying a $3.2 million ship to escort its existing vessel, the Farley Mowat, on an anti-whaling mission in the Southern Ocean on December 1 as the protest against Japanese whalers again threatens to turn violent.
Association secretary Michelle Currey said she had no qualms in tourists helping to fund a new ship for hardline activists to be used in potentially violent clashes with Japanese whalers.
"I think they're (Sea Shepherd) the most extreme whale-watching group in the world and we've chosen to fund them because we need some action taken on the whales," said Ms Currey, whose group hopes to raise $2 million towards the cost of the ship, the Leviathan.
"We really need someone to take extreme action to ensure that the whales are protected and kept safe.
"We're really happy to do that and we totally support it."
The international whale watching industry is estimated to be worth more than $1.33 billion a year.
The Federal Government is vigorously opposed to Japanese whaling but has distanced itself from Sea Shepherd's risky tactics, which include ramming other ships and scuppering rogue vessels.
The Leviathan is expected to arrive in Australia within weeks, and will join the 54m Farley Mowat – named for a noted Canadian environmental writer – which has been moored at Docklands, Melbourne for repairs.
Sea Shepherd international director Jonny Vasic will attend Whale Protection Day to answer questions and distribute information about the upcoming Antarctic campaign.
Five boats will leave Marina Mirage at Main Beach for a two-hour whale watching tour, with all proceeds from the $50 ticket price going to the society's coming Whale Defence Campaign.
Mr Vasic said whaling nations had doubled the illegal quota of minke whales to just over 1000 and would be targeting 50 fin and 50 humpback whales.
Source - Townsville Bulletin