(Thumbnail image: BBC)

Conflict on the high seas after a Japanese whaling vessel and anti-whaling activists collided in remote Antarctic waters Wednesday.  The marine conservation group Sea Shephard has long contended that Japan’s whaling practices violate international law.  And in the wake of the collision—controversy, as both sides present very different versions of who’s at fault.

We’re looking at perspectives from CNN, Sky News, Al Jazeera English, Japan Today, and Fox News.

Despite a worldwide moratorium on whaling, Japan is allowed to kill nearly 1,000 whales each year for scientific research.

CNN summarizes the finger pointing from both sides.

“Sea Sheppard says that its vessel was deliberately ran by the Japanese—calling it an ‘unprovoked attack.’ Japan says the Sea Sheppard vessel went in front of its vessel and it could not avoid a collision.”

 
On Japan Today online, an article calls Sea Sheppard a group of “radical conservationists.”

“Sea Shepherd is generally seen as belligerent in Japan and has garnered little sympathy. Two major newspapers put photos of the clash on their front pages Thursday. ‘This is what harassment leads to,’ said one of the captions.”

Investigations into the incident are continuing, but media outlets like Sky News and Al Jazeera English are doing some analysis of their own.

REPORTER: “Studying the pictures today, he said both vessels showed poor seamanship, but the protest boat had right of way.”

MARITIME EXPERT: “He’s entitled to maintain his course of speed as stand-on vessel, but the big boat is the give way boat. It looks like he actually turned into him.” (SKY NEWS)

REPORTER: “It’s hard to be certain of the angles involved, but it appears the Japanese ship does turn toward the vessel... just before impact.” (AL JAZEERA ENGLISH)

An article in the National Post suggests it doesn’t matter who caused the collision—Sea Sheppard doesn’t have the right to take the law into its own hands.

“Nothing against whales, but self-important egomaniacs who treat the law with contempt in pursuit of their own private agenda are not the sort of people you want championing your cause… If whaling is to be halted, it should be done via legal international means, not via crazed zealots with bat-boats.”

But a guest on FOX News says Sea Sheppard is championing a good cause.

“They don’t need to be whaling.  They’re whaling for what they say are scientific purposes and you know, these people that are out there from the Sea Shepherd might be referred to as eco-terrorists, but unfortunately, the Japanese and other whaling companies are terrorizing the ecosystem.”

So who do you think is to blame for the collision? And is Sea Shepherd's aggressive activism justified or is it crossing the line?

Writer: Newsy Staff

Producer: Nathan Giannini