Whaling fleet leaves for Antarctic with beefed-up security

KITAKYUSHU — Whaling vessels left Shimonoseki port in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Tuesday bound for the Antarctic Ocean, accompanied for the first time by a Fisheries Agency patrol boat as obstructive actions by the antiwhaling group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society are anticipated.

The three-vessel fleet plans to take a total of some 900 minke and fin whales during the whaling operation, according to the agency.

The agency did not disclose the date of departure in advance or the length of the operation.

Under normal conditions, the fleet is expected to complete its mission at the end of March and return home in April.

Last February, the hunt was cut short by one month due to obstructive actions by Sea Shepherd, including throwing bottles containing chemicals at the Japanese vessels.