New Zealand has joined several other countries in calling for the safety of those protesting whaling in the Southern Ocean.
In a statement today, the governments of New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands and the United States jointly condemned any actions in the Southern Ocean that could endanger human lives.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the four countries were deeply concerned that confrontations in the area would lead to injury or loss of life among protestors and whaling crews.
"We call on the masters of all vessels involved in these actions in the Southern Ocean to take responsibility for ensuring that safety of human life at sea is their highest priority."
Mr McCully said the countries remained firmly opposed to commercial whaling, including so-called 'scientific' whaling, particularly in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, and were disappointed by the recent departure of the Japanese whaling fleet for the Southern Ocean.
