What is the Government's roll in International Whaling?

The issue of whaling is extremely political. The governments of both sides of the issue are very involved in terms of policy, reform and action. A recent article out of Australia, the world's biggest anti-whaling advocate, took a direct stab at their own government. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, although now a national organization, was founded and run by a man named Paul Watson out of Australia. Watson's life revolves around the protection of these massive mammals and he has recently been standing up for them more than ever. 

In regards to their next whaling mission, the Japanese Government granted their whalers $28 million to strengthen the whaling program's security. This security hopes to break the Sea Shepherds efforts to interfere with their hunt. In regards to the Japanese governments allocations, Watson believes his own government is failing in terms of it's moral and legal 

responsibilities.

The article goes on to detail some discrepancies The Sea Shepherd founder had with the Australian government concerning similar matters. 

"When Uruguayan fishermen go into these waters to catch Patagonian toothfish, Australia arrests them,"

 "Why is that Uruguay can't fish, but Japan can kill whales in these same waters?"                            "Japan is operating like an outlaw, renegade nation, but nobody has the guts to do anything about it."

Although not fully reliant on their government for support, the Australian whale advocates  and Sea Shepherd members turn to them for help in times of financial and political need. The article explains how Watson is also a cofounder of Greenpeace and how him and his followers once treasured the Australian Government but they are now extremely let down. This article frames the government in a very negative light in regards to helping their peoples cause. But is poses the question of how much of the issue is really the governments responsibility and how much of it is truly in their hands? Although this extreme activist group is in their country, what obligations do they hold?

The people believe they hold a huge obligation to these mammals and claim they would step out of the way, "all the Australian Government has to do is send a navy vessel down there and do the job they're supposed to be doing." To the people and these advocates, it is the governments duty.

Regardless of government backing, two Sea Shepherd ships The Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot will take on the seas on what they hope will be their last attempt to fight the Japanese hunters near the end of November. They plan to catch the whalers in the middle before they are able to reach the whales.