Environment

‘Dishonest’ and ‘Morally Bankrupt’: ‘Whale Wars’ Captain Alleges Lies and Cover-Ups

Call them pirates, environmentalists, or eco-terrorists. But whatever you call the members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) — better known as the crew from Animal Planet’s “Whale Wars” –  you should know that one of their own is calling them “dishonest” and “morally bankrupt,” and alleging conspiracies and cover-ups.

Dishonest and Morally Bankrupt: Whale Wars Captain Alleges Lies and Cover Ups

Capt. Pete Bethune is accusing the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and its leadership of being "morally bankrupt." (Photo: AP)

Former Sea Shepherd captain Pete Bethune, from New Zealand, has lashed out at the scrappy, yet highly organized and sometimes dangerous, group of international college activists, weekend warriors, and extended-vacation professionals who pester Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean in an attempt to save the whales. He‘s especially upset with the group’s leader, Capt. Paul Watson, accusing the American of hoodwinking the public on multiple occasions.

In a lengthy explanation on his Facebook page, and then through a story on the site ecorazzi.com that he links to, Bethune offers an “online letter of resignation.”

“I am asking that from now on, SSCS determine to act in an honest way with its volunteers, supporters and media,” Bethune writes via a Facebook comment. “SSCS does not need to lie. Saving whales, dolphins, tuna and sharks are noble causes, and the public will embrace these as worthwhile. The story does not need to be manipulated and changed in order to get public support.”

The controversy started when Bethune’s boat, the Batman-style Ady Gil — one in the SSCS’s fleet of three — collided with one of the Japanese whaling vessels, eventually leading to the boat’s sinking:

The collision enraged Bethune, and through a serious of conversations with Watson he devised a plan to board the Japanese vessel Shonan Maru No. 2 and place the captain under citizen’s arrest. But while he was able to board the boat, he was arrested by Japanese officials, held for five months in a Japanese prison, sentenced to two years’ imprisonment (a sentence eventually suspended for five years), and immediately deported.

According to the SSCS, while in custody Bethune implicated Watson incorrectly in the plot, which the group alleges lead the Japanese to issue an arrest warrant for Watson, put him on the international “blue list,” and may have even resulted in a brief arrest while Watson was traveling between the U.S. and Canada.

“Perhaps in a misguided attempt to gain leniency while still in custody, Bethune provided false testimony to the Japanese authorities regarding Captain Paul Watson,” the SSCS says in a statement on its website. As a result, “[SSCS] recently informed Captain Pete Bethune that he will no longer be associated with the society or with any Sea Shepherd campaigns.”

In an e-mail to The Blaze, Bethune confirms that he in fact gave false testimony. “He never gave the order,” Bethune writes regarding Watson and the boarding incident. “It was my own idea and he supported it. … It was an error in judgment on my part and I apologized to Paul [Watson] for it. But in the end I did what my lawyers, appointed by Sea Shepherd, told me to do.”

According to Bethune’s e-mail, the relationship went sour once SSCS “ditched” him in a Japanese prison. When finally freed, Bethune says he he gave Watson “an ultimatum to start dealing honestly with public and to start honouring commitments he makes to volunteers.”

Dishonest and Morally Bankrupt: Whale Wars Captain Alleges Lies and Cover Ups

American Capt. Paul Watson has been leading campaigns to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean since 1978. Now one of his captains is accusing him of conspiracies and cover ups. (Photo: AP)

That apparently hasn’t happened, as Bethune blew the whistle yesterday on the group. The truth according to Bethune is a whale of a tale. He alleges that his boat, the Ady Gil, did not sink as a result of a collision, but rather was intentionally scuttled later by Bethune at the order of Capt. Watson — Watson apparently did not want to take time away from agitating the Japanese in order to tow the boat back to port for repairs.

“I was told to go and do something to the boat so she would sink in 6-12 hours,” Bethune writes in his e-mail to The Blaze. “Then the scene where the boat was left to sink was  recreated in the morning to make it seem like I was present. … We deliberately sank a vessel and lied about it.“ On his Facebook page he called the move ”a total breach of ethics.”

Bethune’s e-mail even suggests that Animal Planet was in on the plan: “The raw footage would definitely show the apparent decision to leave the boat was staged.”

But the allegations don’t stop there. According to Bethune’s letter on ecorazzi, there were more cover ups:

After the Ady Gil was scuttled, crew of the Shonan Maru found four arrows in the water. SSCS issued a press release denying all knowledge of the arrows, suggesting instead that the whalers had planted them as false evidence. There was no need to say anything at all. The story was the Ady Gil had sunk…not that some arrows had been found. No one really cared about four arrows when the whalers had explosive harpoons and 12 gauge shotguns.

When I met with Paul Watson in July 2009, he gave me permission to take a Bow and Arrow to Antarctica, with the idea of pasting a poison on the arrow tips (or fake poison), and firing them into dead whales while they were being transferred from harpoon vessel to processing ship. When I met Paul on the Steve Irwin in Antarctica, I confirmed all tactics, and he again said I had permission to use the bow and arrow if we came across a suitable situation.

Yet that might not be the worst of it. Bethune also reveals that an apparent shooting of Watson, captured on film during season one, could have been staged:

(Warning: graphic language)

SSCS Crew present on that voyage argued strongly to me that the entire episode was faked. I was not on the campaign, so in fact I don’t know if it is in fact true or not. However given what I’ve witnessed in the last year, and my knowledge of the Japanese crew, I would bet $500,000 at odds of 10:1, that the event was staged.

“What really concerns me most is the apparent moral bankruptcy of senior SSCS personnel,” Bethune says in his resignation letter. “They routinely conspire and lie over serious matters, with little regard for people like myself who they malign and bulldoze along the way.”

The SSCS has always toed the line between activist and aggressor, more often than not falling into the latter category. The collision with the Shonan Maru No. 2 is not the first run in. Two years ago Watson was investigated for ramming into one of the Japanese whalers while trying to prevent a whale killing. The group also regularly throws beutyric acid at the whaling vessels, and even resorted to using potato guns on the most recent season.

Both SSCS and the Japanese whalers claim to have the law on their side. SSCS says the Japanese are violating international whaling laws, while the Japanese claim to be conducting research.

In the past, Glenn Beck has called the group “environmental extremists” in reference to their tactics. Bethune had yet to respond to questions regarding the groups designation at the time of this article’s publication.

SSCS did not immediately return a request for comment. Attempts to contact Discovery Communications, LLC, Animal Planet’s parent company, were unsuccessful.

Comments (91)

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  • Ashrak
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 11:03am

    These are environmentalist terrorists, pirates, no doubt. Following the whalers, taking film of their activities in international waters, is one thing, but crossing into their paths and going so far as to launch the stink bombs onto the Japanese ships crosses the line. Watching the show, I have been amazed that the Japanese have been, for so long, able to resist firing back with enough means to stop those attacks. Bob Barker should be ashamed of himself.

    I was wondering how the “bat boat” sank, footage showed it to be floating with the nose wide open. Glad to see someone with at least some honor left is willing to tell the truth about the goings on.

    To the Japanese people, if even one more projectile is launched upon your ships, sink the vessel from which it came. To the enviros who are so against whaling, mind yourselves and your behavior. Watch them all you want to, document what you wish, but do not think you can endlessly attack another without a due response coming your way eventually.

    Report Post » Ashrak  
  • MikeRaleighNC
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 11:01am

    Save the plankton…..Kill a whale

    Report Post »  
    • metronil
      Posted on February 7, 2011 at 2:54pm

      The FAT CAPTAIN is NOT an American…he is CANADIAN!!!

      Please correct your story we do not want to be associated with that fat, pedophile.

      I dont like whaling but i hate the sea shepard more than the whalers.

      Report Post »  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 10:47am

    Of course they are liars, but you can’t deny the impact unregulated Japanese whaling is having… it’s just common sense not to deplete the stocks.

    Report Post » N37BU6  
  • Frank Versace
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 10:41am

    The Eco-Fascists are ALL morally bankrupt at this point. Case in point: the recent “exploding children” ads. I stopped watching the Animal Planet channel as soon as I saw the ads promoting Whale Wars. Funding terrorism in ANY form, including eco-terrorism, is proof of moral bankruptcy.

    Report Post »  
  • shipwreckkelley
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 10:34am

    South Park nailed it with the episode of “Whale Whores” These people should be imprisoned for assaulting the Japanese fleet, & I don’t agree with the Japanese whaling.

    Report Post » shipwreckkelley  
  • Mikee T
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 10:27am

    I don‘t care to really get into the why’s and wherefore’s about this……. I will say this: There was a documentary on cable recently exposing asian countries killing dolphins in the most inhumane manner I have ever seen in my life……and then feeding the meat to their school children even though it is dangerously high in mercury content….unconscionable…. Not to mention, they are killing “intelligent mammals” because they fear that dolphins will consume so much fish that it will cause famine for their people…. You kow what Asia ? Start eating more vegetables and meat then..

    Report Post »  
    • biggreenboo
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 7:56am

      WAIT… aren’t you really talking about the Saudi Prince?

      Report Post »  
  • DimmuBorgir
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:45am

    1) i hope they get shot at alot more often
    2) watch the south park where they make fun of these guys
    3) i hope they get shot at alot more often
    4) i like my tuna with a hint of dolphin

    Report Post » DimmuBorgir  
  • IX-XI
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:39am

    I hear RPG rounds are cheap, plentiful and effective. Best of all it’s easy to train your people to fire them effectively.

    It would be a good idea for these guys to arm their crews with lots of RPGs. When the Whale Wars people come into sight, let ‘em get close enough for a full broadside, then hit ‘em with seven or eight RPG rounds at the waterline.

    Report Post » IX-XI  
  • 5
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:37am

    Just tell the truth. LIARS.

    Stop being like Obama.

    Report Post »  
  • NC
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:35am

    Having watched this latest season of Whale Wars, I distinctly remember the events leading up to the sinking of the Ady Gil.

    In addition, I remember saying to Mrs. NC during the episode showing the sinking, that the Captain of the Ady Gil (Pete Bethume) should be fired for putting this vessel in harms way. When he last met up with one of the Sea Shepherd ships (it might have been the Bob Barker) he failed to refuel.

    He was sitting out there, surrounded by mega ton whaling ships that the has been harassing, w/o any fuel. His ship literally became “dead in the water”.

    Thanks to TheBlaze for making this info available.

    NC (always wonders what goes on before the camera rolls)

    NC  
  • MusketBall
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:24am

    These morons are pirates, period. If this lot turned up to interfere with the lawful activity of a ship I happened to be the captain of, I’d sent them straight to the bottom.

    Report Post » MusketBall  
  • JohnnyJT
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:18am

    Enviromentalist are Communist

    South Philly Boy  
  • FBPDPLT
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:15am

    These nut cases should all be in Japenese jails

    Report Post » FBPDPLT  
  • JAtlasShrugged
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:03am

    We had GreenPeace try to pull these kind of stunts around our oil operations in The Netherlands back in about 1990. Unfortunately for them one of our crew was a GreenPeace member and published a letter in the media in The Netherlands about their false accusations and tatics.

    Report Post »  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:57am

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dXCR9LX-Kc&feature=related

    Better video where you can see the Andy Gil is throttled up and rammed the whaler.

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
    • Two_Kids_Dad
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 11:21am

      Nice! The turbulent water coming out the back of the boat’s impellers proves at the very least that their engines were on and they were moving forward. “Dead in the water” is definitely a lie.

      I think it’s a shared blame situation because the Japanese vessel did definitely veer to starboard to reduce the distance between themselves and the Ady Gil. Most likely to blast them with the water cannons.

      Whatever… both sides suck. But it’s great television since I get to root against two villains.

      Report Post » Two_Kids_Dad  
    • biggreenboo
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 3:03pm

      Pretty sure…. a captain in a carbon fiber boat is NOT going to ram a steel whaling ship…. I’m just sayin!!!

      Report Post »  
    • 1971Ghia
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:28am

      Throttled up, just don’t see that. SSCS are nuts, as are the Whalers. Research my rear end.

      Report Post »  
    • Ramv36
      Posted on January 23, 2012 at 12:58am

      Wow, you’re right. Remembering that the only reason they had the Ady Gil in the first place was because of it’s amazing acceleration and speed, you see both those attributes at work in that video: The Japanese ship would have just missed them….had they not throttled up at the last second and shot into the much larger boat’s path of travel. Look at the sudden increase of ‘wash’ from the rear of the ‘Gil just before the Whalers hit them…they deliberately placed themselves in harm’s way, which I guess is only a crime for a ship‘s captain if you’re Italian….

      Report Post »  
  • mizflame98
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:43am

    These people are nut jobs; especially Capt. Paul Watson. Greenpeace speaks out against him and yet he gets a show on Animal Planet. Unbelievable!
    http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/about/history/paul-watson/

    Report Post » mizflame98  
  • Ruler4You
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:42am

    Pirates and thugs often lie about every thing. It’s who they are.

    Report Post » Ruler4You  
  • iluvColonelAngus
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:35am

    oh no a “reality show” thats not real!? who’da thunk it?

    Report Post » iluvColonelAngus  
  • Only1King
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:28am

    So whats new a liberal group lied to forward their agenda. nothing new here people lets move on.

    Report Post » Only1King  
  • kenrj
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:25am

    I just read a fascinating science fiction e-book, The Future of Change, which gives a glimpse of the US 60 years from now where the EPA is a powerful enforcement arm of a government in control of everything. Scary!

    kenrj  
    • Falconer
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:23am

      The EPA has been a powerful enforcement arm of the Federal Government for years. Taking peoples property and businesses.

      Report Post »  
  • Toader Gloat
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:22am

    I am a lifelong obsessor over God’s creation, and I watch Whale Wars for fun. These morons are the most inept crew I have ever seen. When you watch Deadliest Catch religiously, you gain a sense for the apptitude of the sailors. These idiots are hilarious, and the pissy but sadly inept, albino Fred Flintstone lookin captain is the best of all! What an idiot…I love it.

    I will watch until one of the big ships gets blasted into the depths while pestering someone trying to make a living, then I will be satisfied, I suppose.

    Shurmus  
    • w4jle
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:17am

      The only thing funnier than these idiots was the South Park parody.

      Report Post » w4jle  
    • AngryTexanFromAmarillo
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 11:59am

      All I can say is the ends justify the means. This is their belief system. It doesn’t matter what they have to do or who they hurt as long as in the end the whales are safe. Just like the Muslim terrorist. if they have to lie and act friendly to get the world domination they want , they will do just that.

      Report Post » AngryTexanFromAmarillo  
    • Tennessee Veteran
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:08pm

      You could put the Keystone Kops on a ship and they would not be as incompetent as the SSCS crewmembers. I was very skeptical of the “shooting” incident because “Capt” Watson did not appear to have any reaction when he was supposed to have been hit with a bullet. Besides, I think he was the only one wearing a protective vest.

      Report Post » Tennessee Veteran  
    • biggreenboo
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 2:58pm

      Double Amen!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • AMARILLODEFENDER
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 11:44pm

      Come on ANGRYTEXANFROMAMARILLO, that is basicly word for word what Glenn said this morning, have an independent thought. Don’t just regurgitate what you hear on 940, You’re representing Amarillo when you put it in your username. Try to make us look halfway intelligent, not like we’re just abunch of rednecks that echo what we hear in the media.

      Report Post »  
  • Back To Reality
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:22am

    I was pretty sure that Paul Watson is Canadian, not American.

    Back To Reality  
  • TomBurpee
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:20am

    Things didn’t seem quite right with sinking of the Ady Gil. I knew right away when the Sea Shepherd abandoned Pete that they had done something awful and didn’t want any more attention than Pete had already gotten them.
    It’s a shame that they think they have to fight this fight with dirty tactics, Lord knows the whalers do enough on their own to make the case that the “research” they’re doing needs to be stopped.
    Two wrongs don’t make a right, and I’m glad that Pete came out and spoke about this..

    Report Post » TomBurpee  
  • Dustyluv
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:20am

    Enviromentalist would lie? NO! Say it ain’t so!! Al Gore‘s book is a convienient truth isn’t it? Global warming cannot be a myth can it? I mean I fried an egg on the sidewalk after all and the ice in my tea melted pretty fast too…

    Wackos all!!

     
  • dcart888
    Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:16am

    Remember when a can of tuna tasted good prior to these wackos pressure changed what can be included in a can of tuna?

    dcart888  
    • Docrow
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:27am

      good stuff

      Report Post » Docrow  
    • Freelancer
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:59am

      Tuna these days tastes like cat food. I assume it does because it smells the same anyway. I used to eat it but now can’t get past the smell.

      Report Post » Freelancer  
    • 5
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:36am

      If you ever watched this you can tell they are Morons.

       
    • MAULEMALL
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 10:18am

      That boat crash was AWESOME !!!

      Report Post » MAULEMALL  
    • superfide
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 5:05pm

      I could go for a big fat double whale burger right now…

      Report Post »  
    • Venom
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 5:54pm

      Wow, these are the only people i don’t consider wackos. Have you ever seen a whale? Majestic creature, but besides that they are endangered so try not to be a bigot ok?

      Venom  
    • flamedone1968
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:51pm

      My wife and I watched the show a few times and found we were pulling for the whale ships. That being said I think the “REASERCH” plastered down the side is probably BS. I guess that is their way of trying to get around the wacos telling them what to do or not do. With all the misdirection and lies all one can do is look to the way they go about it.
      Those on the whale ships are killing whales, yes. They are attempting to make a living in a way that has been done for a very long time. They provide a product.
      Those on the flip side are using some rather dangerous tactics to both sides and they seem to only provide danger and a TV show.

      Report Post » flamedone1968  
    • Pecatonica
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 8:44am

      Early on, I enjoyed this program. But they went too far. No longer watch. Whackos!

      Report Post » Pecatonica  
    • danyelle55
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 9:27am

      No good guys here, just bad guys fighting among themselves… terrorists and whalers!!! There are much better methods of exposing truth rather than creating lies and violence.

      Report Post »  
    • Robert W
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 3:43pm

      Save the whales but kill the children. Spend the money fighting abortion. Thats how upside down the world is!

      Report Post »  
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