Stop the Killing

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — A tense standoff in frigid Antarctic waters ended Friday when two activists who had jumped on board a Japanese whaling boat were returned to their ship by Australian officials.

The return paved the way for the Japanese fleet to resume killing whales, and for Japan's staunchest opponents to restart their campaign of harassment to stop them.

he dispute underscored the high-stakes nature of the contest fought each year in the remote and dangerous seas at the far south of the world, thousands of miles from the possibility of regular emergency or rescue services.

At issue is Japan's foray into the Antarctica in November under a program that allows the killing of minke and fin whales for scientific research, despite an international ban on commercial whaling. Opponents say Japan has used the loophole to kill nearly 10,000 whales over the past two decades and sell their meat on the commercial market.

Sea Shepherd had said the pair wanted to deliver an anti-whaling letter and then leave, and accused the whalers of taking their members hostage. Japanese whaling officials said the activists were acting like pirates.

The standoff brought Japan's whaling fleet to a temporary standstill while officials worked out the details of the men's transfer.

Watson, captain of the Steve Irwin, said he would resume aggravating the whalers, though it was unlikely members of his crew would again try to board one of the Japanese fleet.

"We have got them back without any conditions and now we are going to continue on harassing and chasing the Japanese fleet," Watson said.

"They are down here illegally killing whales, illegally targeting endangered species ... These people are no different than elephant poachers in Africa or tiger poachers in India," Watson had told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. earlier.

A staunch anti-whaling nation, Australia sent the Oceanic Viking to the Antarctic Ocean last month to collect photo and video evidence that might be used in international courts to prove that the program is a front for commercial whaling.