Stop Sea Shepherd

The US National Fisheries Institute has asked the American authorities to carry out immediate investigations into the organisation Sea Shepherd. “The recent alleged actions against Norwegian fishing vessels constitute a clear case of “piracy” ... the US is under legal obligation to prevent piracy,” it says in a letter to the US Whaling Commissioner, James Baker, in the Department of Commerce. Copies of the letter were sent to the US Attorney General and the US Secretary of Treasure.

The National Institute of Fisheries is an umbrella organisation representing the American fishing industry and a number of fisheries organisations. “Acts of violence against fishermen of any nation cannot be tolerated. Thousands of US fishermen make their living on the high seas. Their safety and livelihood could be threatened unless US officials, such as yourself, vigorously condemn violence on the high sea,” it says in the letter from NFI.

The letter asks US Whaling Commissioner, James Baker, to bring the issue before the International Whaling Commission and give an account of what the US is doing to prevent acts of violence regarding whaling, to ask the IWC to condemn acts of piracy with respect to whaling, and to ask for an international effort to prevent violence in the future.

Charitable purpose
The letter also aksed the Treasury Department to reassess Sea Shepherd’s tax-exemption status. “To be qualified for status as tax-exempt ... an organisation must be “organized and operated exclusively” for a charitable purpose. “Committing acts of piracy can hardly be characterized as being charitable,” comments the National Fisheries Institute.