日本鯨類研究所
Both sides accused the other of terrorism during the incident. The ICR called the butyric acid attack on "Yūshin Maru No. 2" an "inhumane terrorist attack" and called on the Australian Government to seize the "Steve Irwin". Conversely, "Steve Irwin" 1st Officer Peter Brown stated that "the Institute of Cetacean Research is acting like a terrorist organisation [...] Here they are taking hostages and making demands. Our policy is that we don't respond to terrorist demands."