ABC News 12 Jan 08;
Japan has defended its plans to kill up to 1,000 whales in the Southern Ocean despite the interception of its fleet by Greenpeace.
Greenpeace protest ship the Esperanza located the fleet in the Southern Ocean early this morning and the environmental group has vowed to stop the Japanese fleet from killing any whales.
But Japan Foreign Ministry spokesman Tomohiko Tanaguchi says the annual whale hunt is not breaking international law and has urged the protesters not to use violence.
"According to the International Whaling Commission, scientific research is perfectly legal and the Japanese fleet is engaged in the legal activities," he said.
Greenpeace said they contacted the Japanese fleet and made it clear they would not threaten the crew.
Mr Tanaguchi says the whaling will go ahead regardless of the pursuit.
Earlier, Federal Government spokesman Chris Bowen urged Greenpeace members on board Esperanza to be cautious.
"The people actually at the site, on the high seas, need to be very careful," he said.
"They need to exercise restraint because their own personal safety is at risk, and the personal safety of others is at risk.
"The Government's very concerned that nobody puts themselves in harm's way unnecessarily."
Greenpeace says it has not yet had contact with the Federal Government since it intercepted the fleet.
Federal Government ship the Ocean Viking will be monitoring the whaling fleet and is expected to reach the scene in the next few days.
