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APRIL 25, 2000

Erin Abbott, the 24-year-old anti-whaling activist arrested last week for interfering with the Makah whale hunt, has been released on her own recognizance by the US District Court in Tacoma, Washington. Photo © AP Abbott, who suffered a broken shoulder after a Coast Guard boat overtook her jet skis, had been detained at a Port Angeles hospital since the incident. Yesterday, she appeared in US District Court before Judge J. Kelley Arnold.

On Thursday, Abbott had interrupted the Parker whaling family during their hunt and the Coast Guard moved in to prevent her from endangering the lives of the hunters, who conduct the hunt in a canoe with no propulsion.

A Coast Guard official said his "crew is absolutely sickened by the (protesters’) blatant disregard for human life, and safety and the law."

Abbott is charged with violating the 500-yard exclusionary zone around the hunt and could face up to six years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Known as a moving exclusionary zone, or MEZ, the Coast Guard enacted the zone last year in order to reduce danger to life and property while the hunt occurs.

In addition to being ordered to obey the zone, Abbott was also ordered to keep off the Makah reservation. She was also ordered to stay off any personal watercraft, such as jet skis.

Abbott's preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 5. She has not yet entered a plea.

The Parker family's 10-day whaling permit expires tomorrow. The family is one of 5 who have been preparing for the hunting season.

Staff and news wires contributed to this report.

Relevant Links:
The Makah Nation of Washington
The 13th District of the US Coast Guard is responsible for the Pacific Northwest.
You can search the Federal Register for rules. To find relevant documents about the MEZ, search the 1999 Federal Register using the query "Makah." The Final Rule is 33 CFR Part 165.

Related Story:
Injured whale hunt protester remains defiant (The Talking Circle 4/21)