Anti-whaling activists from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society tried to disrupt the operations of Japan’s whaling fleet in Antarctic waters on Jan. 10 [2014], the Fisheries Agency said.<\/p>\n
It was the first such incident of the season. No injuries or damage were reported by the No. 2 Shonan Maru, a patrol ship with the agency that is there to protect the Japanese whalers.<\/p>\n
According to the agency, two small speed boats deployed by the Steve Irwin, one of the vessels that comprise the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society\u2019s anti-whaling fleet, approached the No. 2 Shonan Maru between 7:15 a.m. and 9 a.m. (JST) on Jan. 10.<\/p>\n
The boats, using evasive techniques, made their way to the back of the Japanese patrol ship and tried to entangle its propeller with rope. The agency said the activists tried five times to do so.<\/p>\n
The No. 2 Shonan Maru sounded an alarm and used a water cannon to ward off the anti-whaling activists.<\/p>\n
In a December 2012 decision, a U.S. court ordered the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to temporarily suspend its obstruction efforts and refrain from approaching the whaling fleets, which Japan says are for scientific research.<\/p>\n