MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Protestors win half victory over Japanese whaling fleet

Japan blamed the failure of its whaling fleet to net little more than half its target catch this year to “relentless interference” from environmentalists and described the situation as “regrettable”.

The main whaling ship, the Nisshin Maru, docked in the capital Tokyo Tuesday morning with 551 minke whales, well short of the 900 quota target and 50 fin whales. "It is truly regrettable that we could not carry out the project as planned" said Agriculture Deputy Minister Toshiro Shirasu. However the official stated that Japan plans to continue its annual hunt, which the government says is necessary for scientific research purposes. The Japanese whaling vessels were followed around the Antarctic by activists from the protest groups Greenpeace and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Japan's fleet set sail for the Antarctic last November but officials said they lost 31 days of hunting as a result of the protests. "Sabotage by activists is a major factor behind our failure to achieve our target" a fisheries agency official said. Greenpeace spokesman Junichi Sato indicated conservationists reject Japan's need to carry out the hunt, and believe the whales are ultimately destined to be eaten as food. "They say that one reason for the lower catch is that they didn't see so many whales" he said. "That is a good reason why they should not conduct lethal research". However Greenpeace pointed out that this year's quota was much higher than in previous years and despite missing their target, this means the Japanese have still killed far more whales this year than three years ago. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society - which was involved in violent clashes with the whalers - claimed its campaign saved hundreds of animals. At one point, Sea Shepherd activists threw bottles of foul-smelling substances at a whaling ship in an attempt to disrupt the hunt, resulting in three sailors complaining of eye irritation. The protesters were branded environmental terrorists by Japan which said it wants to pursue criminal charges against those involved in the protests.