Whale Wars Season 2 Episode 8 Bait and Switch
- TV-PG
- July 31, 2009
- 43 min
-
7.2 (16)
In the second season of Whale Wars, the eighth episode titled "Bait and Switch" follows the ongoing battle between the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Japanese whaling vessels. The show documents the high-stakes confrontations between the activist group and the whalers as they try to protect the Antarctic waters from illegal whaling.
The episode begins with the Sea Shepherd's flagship vessel, the Steve Irwin, on a hunt for any Japanese vessels that may be in the area. The crew members are on high alert as they know that any sighting could potentially lead to a dangerous encounter. As they scan the horizon, they spot a vessel that they believe to be Japanese. When they move closer, however, they realize that it's actually a Korean vessel, which they quickly learn is engaging in illegal fishing.
The Sea Shepherd crew is faced with a dilemma: do they continue their pursuit of the whaling vessels and risk leaving the illegal fishing ship to continue its activities, or do they divert their attention to stop the illegal fishing in progress? After much debate, they decide that preserving the ecosystem of the Antarctic waters is their top priority, and they make the difficult decision to set aside their whaling campaign to focus on stopping the illegal Korean vessel.
As the Steve Irwin approaches the Korean vessel, they see that the crew members are frantically trying to get away and disposing of evidence of their illegal activities. The Sea Shepherd crew launches their small boats to intercept the fishing vessel and try to board it. However, the Korean crew fights back with force, using their boat to ram the smaller Sea Shepherd boats and throwing large amounts of fishing netting at them.
With both sides escalating their tactics, the situation becomes increasingly dangerous. The Korean crew shows no signs of relenting, and the Sea Shepherd crew is forced to call in their helicopter to try to slow down the Korean vessel. The helicopter swoops over the Korean boat, lowering a rope that gets entangled in the vessel's propeller, effectively slowing them down.
Despite the setbacks, the Korean crew remains defiant, continuing to throw fishing gear at the Sea Shepherd boats and refusing to let the activists board their vessel. In the end, the Sea Shepherd crew is forced to back off and watch as the illegal vessel speeds away, returning to its illegal fishing activities.
As the show progresses, it becomes clear how important it is to bring attention to the illegal activities taking place in the Antarctic waters. The Sea Shepherd crew is dedicated to putting a stop to the destructive practices of the whaling and fishing industries and draws attention to the dangers that they pose to the marine ecosystem.
Overall, Whale Wars season 2 episode 8 "Bait and Switch" emphasizes how committed the Sea Shepherd activists are in their fight against whalers and illegal fishermen, even when it means putting themselves in harm's way. The episode serves as a reminder of the importance of marine conservation and the dangers posed by the illegal practices taking place in our oceans.