CANBERRA, Feb 21- Japan has temporarily suspended its annual whale hunt after anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd accused a Japanese ship of ramming its two vessels as protesters tried to prevent the whaler from refuelling, Xinhua news agency quoted Australian Minister for Environment Tony Burke as saying.
The anti-whaling group on Wednesday claimed two of its boats — Steve Irwin and Bob Barker — were rammed by a Japanese ship in Australian Antarctic waters, saying the attacks happened after they were ordered to leave the area by one of the boats in the Japanese whaling fleet.
It also claimed armed Japanese coastguards threw “concussion grenades” at activists on the ships. Japan’s fisheries agency has denied the reports but confirmed that one of its factory ships, the Nisshin Maru, had rammed two boats belonging to Sea Shepherd.
However, it said the clashes happened after activists came too close to a Japanese vessel which was refuelling. According to local media reports, Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research has announced it has stopped work for the time being due to difficulties in refueling.
BERNAMA
