Japanese whaling authorities say Sea Shepherd activists have attacked its whaling fleet in the Antarctic, in the second clash between the two sides this week.
The Institute of Cetacean Research, which organises Japan’s so-called scientific whaling program, says activists from the Sea Shepherd conservation group have confronted the fleet in the Southern Ocean.
It has accused the anti-whaling campaigners of throwing glass bottles at its harpoon ship.
It says activists on board Sea Shepherd’s speedboat also threw ropes at the whaling ship’s propeller.
No-one was hurt in the clash.
The Japanese fleet is in Antarctic waters harpooning whales for what it says is scientific research.
Opponents of the hunt say it is a cover for commercial harvesting.
The clash follows an earlier attack by the Sea Shepherd’s other ships Steve Irwin and Bob Barker against the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru 3 in Antarctic waters on New Year’s Day.
