22 Feb 2013

Japan says whaling suspension temporary

10:46 am on 22 February 2013

The Japanese government says Sea Shepherd activists have not put an end to this year's Southern Ocean whale hunt.

The whaling fleet has suspended fishing and refuelling after a collision between its ship and two Sea Shepherd boats.

Sea Shepherd hailed the suspension as a victory, saying with so little of the whaling season remaining Japan's hunt is effectively over.

But the ABC quotes the Japanese consul-general in Melbourne as saying that's not the case, and the suspension of refuelling is temporary.

On Wednesday Sea Shepherd claimed two of its boats, the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker, were rammed by a Japanese ship in Australian Antarctic waters.