Whaling fleet on the move

Greenpeace claims it has forced the Japanese whaling fleet to suspend hunting in the Southern Ocean.

Two of the environmental group's ships have been tracking the Japanese, using inflatable boats to disrupt their expedition.

Spokesman Steve Rattenberg, who is onboard one of the Greenpeace vessels, today said that after two days of confrontation on the high seas, the Japanese are heading north. He said the fleet has now been sailing for more than 36 hours over 700 kilometres without harpooning a single whale.

Mr Rattenberg said the Greenpeace ships will continue tailing the whalers and expect they will try to resume whaling at some point.

He affirmed that as soon as that happens, the protesters will be putting themselves between the harpoons and the whales again.

- NEWSTALK ZB