Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd is a modern day knight on the high seas, confronting those involved in shark-finning, illegal drift net fishing, whaling, and unlawful exploitation of nature reserves such as in the Gallipagos. He's sometimes criticised for his confrontational tactics - he has been known to resort to ramming boats that ignore his requests to cease and desist - but those same tactics have won him increasing numbers of supporters. And he gets things done.

Watson and his crew aboard the Steve Irwin were tracking a Japanese whaling fleet to the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary. Today, they sent out this message:

"BOARD THE /STEVE IRWIN/ – 15 January 2008 -- 0700 GMT –

The captain of the Japanese Whaling Vessel /Yushin Maru No. 2/ is holding two Sea Shepherd crew members from the conservation vessel /Steve Irwin/ hostage.

Australian citizen Benjamin Potts and British citizen Giles Lane have been tied to the radar mast of the harpoon vessel. The Captain of the whaling vessel has refused Captain Paul Watson's demand for the release of the crew.

The two crew members boarded the whaling vessel with a message to inform them that they were illegally killing whales in the Southern Whale Sanctuary.

Sea Shepherd is demanding that Australia and Great Britain demand an immediate release of these two crew-members.

The letter delivered to the captain of the Japanese whaling vessel stated the following:

To: The Captain of any Japanese ship

Involved with poaching operations in The Australian Antarctic Territorial Economic Exclusion Zone.

Sir,

My name is Giles David Lane

I am a British citizen and an unpaid volunteer on the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel Steve Irwin

I have come onboard your ship because you have refused to acknowledge communication from our ship pertaining to your illegal activities in the waters of the Australian Antarctic Territorial Economic Exclusion Zone.

I am not boarding your ship with the intent to commit a crime, to rob you or to inflict injury upon your crew and yourself or damage to your ship. My reason for boarding is to deliver the message that you are in violation of international conservation law and in violation of the laws of Australia. It is my intent to deliver this message and then to request that you allow me to disembark from your vessel without harm or seizure.

I am empowered to act to uphold these laws in accordance with the United Nations World Charter for Nature and the laws of Australia.

I am boarding you with the request that you please refrain from any further criminal activity in these waters and cease and desist with the continued killing of endangered whales in this designated Whale Sanctuary in violation of the IWC global moratorium on commercial whaling and that you cease and desist in continued violations of Australian law by killing whales within the territorial waters of Australia without permit or permission from the government of Australia.

I am boarding you on the orders of Captain Paul Watson who requests that you treat me with respect and in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an International non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations. Visit www.seashepherd.org

ENDS