High Seas Adventures: Sharing their experiences on the anti-whaling ship, Farley Mowat,
are ship nurse Kirsty Whitefield, centre, and second mate Peter Hammarstedt,
with Ballarat Organisation for Animal Rights president Sarah Evans.
Picture: Jeremy Bannister

by Billy Crossland

Members of the group known for its high seas pursuits of Japanese whaling ships shared experiences with Ballarat's own animal rights group.

Peter Hammarstedt and Kristy Whitefield, from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, attended Ballarat Organisation for Animal Rights' annual general meeting yesterday.

Mr. Hammarstedt is second mate on the Sea Shepherd ship Farley Mowat, and Ms. Whitefield is ship nurse.

The group is planning this summer's trip to protect Australian Antarctic waters from whalers.

"We'll be talking about the history of Sea Shepherd, about what we did in Antarctica last summer and what we're planning to do this year," he said.

Last summer the group pursued a Japanese whaling fleet, scraping the side of a vessel.

The group has been known to ram illegal whaling ships, putting them out of operation.

Mr. Hammarstedt said he could not reveal this summer's tactics.

"We'll be doing what we've been doing for the last 30 years, which is upholding international conservation law, so we're planning on going down there and shutting them down.

"Right now we're securing a second, faster ship, which can actually match the speed of the Japanese."

Sara Evans, who was re-elected BOAR president yesterday, said it was a good opportunity for the group.

"We've really been looking forward to having some speakers with such amazing experiences...(they) really inspire and motivate us."