Greenpeace tries to halt whaling vessel

Updated 14.54 Tue Jan 22 2008

Keywords: Japan, whales, Antarctic, Greenpeace

Greenpeace activists have tried to stop a Japanese whaling ship from refueling in the Antarctic.

Campaigners steered their inflatable boat between the Japanese vessel, Nisshin Maru, and the tank carrying the fuel.

The group has been following the Nisshin Maru for several days while another group known as the Sea Shepherd is also in the region trying to curtail other ships in the fleet

The Japanese crew tried to frighten the activists away by hosing them with water.

But Greenpeace insists it will not be deterred. One of the activists said: "We are in the Antarctic Treaty Area, which means this is a pristine area that needs to be preserved. Refueling in this area should not happen."

The group has been following the Nisshin Maru for several days while another group known as the Sea Shepherd is also in the region trying to curtail other ships in the fleet.

Although whaling is banned, Japan is allowed an annual "scientific" hunt on the grounds it is a cherished cultural tradition and that the mission is necessary to study the creatures.

Over 7,000 whales have been killed in the past 20 years.