Nearly a quarter of a century since Japan began its controversial "research whaling" cull off Antarctica, there was a major development this year in the annual contest of wills between whalers and conservationists.

In mid-February, Japan's whaling fleet was recalled home, with the government blaming harassment from the U.S.-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Having departed on Dec. 2, some two weeks later than usual, the fleet reportedly harpooned around 160 whales, a small fraction of its 945 target.

"We've shut them down, basically," Sea Shepherd's leader, Paul Watson, crowed from the group's "flagship" in Antarctic waters, the Steve Irwin.