For the first time in 20 years protest action has prevented Japan's whalers from meeting their quota, the country's Fisheries Agency says.

The fleet caught only 60% of the whales they planned to - for what they say is scientific research purposes.

The ships are due to return to port in the next few days.

Japan's fleet was followed around the Antarctic by anti-whaling protesters from several different groups in an increasingly bitter dispute.

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Japan says 551 minke whales were caught this winter, far short of the 850 it said it needed to catch for research purposes.

No fin whales were caught. The quota for that species was 50.

Officials are blaming the poor catch on what they call a series of offshore protests. In all, whaling was suspended for about one month as a result of these actions.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society which was involved in the most violent clashes with the whalers has claimed its campaign saved hundreds of whales.

But in Tokyo the environmental group Greenpeace, which also tailed the whalers for weeks, said it was disappointed the fleet had still managed to cull so many.

Last year fewer whales were culled than had been planned because of a fire on one of the Japanese vessels.

This is the first time since 1988 that protest activities have been blamed for Japan not meeting its quota.

(BBC)

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