In a unanimous decision of the 9th circuit court of appeals in San Francisco, the Sea Shepard anti whaling ship and crew are now pirates.
“You don’t need a peg leg or an eye patch,” Chief Judge Alex Kozinski wrote for the unanimous three-judge panel. “When you ram ships; hurl glass containers of acid; drag metal-reinforced ropes in the water to damage propellers and rudders; launch smoke bombs and flares with hooks; and point high-powered lasers at other ships, you are, without a doubt, a pirate, no matter how high-minded you believe your purpose to be.”
http://seattletimes.com/...
Not the first time an animal rights group has crossed the line into illegality, to date the Sea Shepard folks haven't killed anyone.
I don't think that being labeled a pirate by the court is any sort of legal term. In photos the group flies the jolly roger flag which in some places in the world like Somalia or the straights of Malacca might lead to trouble. If they violate the court order to stop messing around it might make returning to Friday Harbor problematic.
I have no opinion on whaling if it's done in a way so as not to endanger any species. I can't imagine any circumstance where I'd eat whale meat, sounds expensive.
It's good to stick up for what you believe and all but it sounds kind of a bit much.