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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Japan fleet misses whaling target | Japan fleet misses whaling target |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Japan's whaling fleet has failed to catch its quota, after being disrupted by clashes with anti-hunting activists. | Japan's whaling fleet has failed to catch its quota, after being disrupted by clashes with anti-hunting activists. |
| The fisheries agency said the fleet caught 60% of the minke whales they had planned - 551 from a target of 850. | The fisheries agency said the fleet caught 60% of the minke whales they had planned - 551 from a target of 850. |
| The ships, which were followed around the Antarctic by activists, are due to return to port in the next few days. | The ships, which were followed around the Antarctic by activists, are due to return to port in the next few days. |
| The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Tokyo, said it was the first time in 20 years that protests had prevented the whalers from reaching their targets. | The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Tokyo, said it was the first time in 20 years that protests had prevented the whalers from reaching their targets. |
| Japan's fleet set sail for the Antarctic last November. But officials said they lost 31 days of hunting as a result of the protests. | Japan's fleet set sail for the Antarctic last November. But officials said they lost 31 days of hunting as a result of the protests. |
| "Sabotage by activists is a major factor behind our failure to achieve our target," a fisheries agency official said. | "Sabotage by activists is a major factor behind our failure to achieve our target," a fisheries agency official said. |
| Repeated attacks | Repeated attacks |
| Environmental group Greenpeace, which tailed the whalers for weeks, said it was disappointed the fleet had still managed to cull so many animals. | Environmental group Greenpeace, which tailed the whalers for weeks, said it was disappointed the fleet had still managed to cull so many animals. |
| Greenpeace pointed out that this year's quota was much higher than in previous years. | Greenpeace pointed out that this year's quota was much higher than in previous years. |
| Despite missing their target, this means the Japanese have still killed far more whales this year than three years ago, the group said. | Despite missing their target, this means the Japanese have still killed far more whales this year than three years ago, the group said. |
| The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society - which was involved in violent clashes with the whalers - claimed its campaign saved hundreds of animals. | The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society - which was involved in violent clashes with the whalers - claimed its campaign saved hundreds of animals. |
| At one point, Sea Shepherd activists threw bottles of foul-smelling substances at a whaling ship in an attempt to disrupt the hunt, resulting in three sailors complaining of eye irritation. | At one point, Sea Shepherd activists threw bottles of foul-smelling substances at a whaling ship in an attempt to disrupt the hunt, resulting in three sailors complaining of eye irritation. |
| The incident followed a high profile stand-off in January in which two activists boarded another Japanese whaling ship. | |
| The protesters were branded environmental terrorists by the Japanese. | The protesters were branded environmental terrorists by the Japanese. |
| As well as failing to reach its quota for minke whales, no fin whales were caught - though officials said that was because none were sighted. | As well as failing to reach its quota for minke whales, no fin whales were caught - though officials said that was because none were sighted. |
| Last year fewer whales were culled than had been planned because of a fire on one of the Japanese vessels. | Last year fewer whales were culled than had been planned because of a fire on one of the Japanese vessels. |
| Tokyo says it carries out whaling for scientific research, but critics say the same data can be collected without killing the animals. | Tokyo says it carries out whaling for scientific research, but critics say the same data can be collected without killing the animals. |