Whalers and activists clash - World - ITN.co.uk The Japanese whaling season has begun, and with it come clashes with animal rights activists. Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd have begun harassing Japanese Whalers as they conduct what they call research into the creatures. The Institute for Cetacean Research runs whaling expeditions in order to skip around international laws on whaling for slaughter. But activists say the whales they kill in the name of science are readily available to eat on Japanese streets, and that the practice is little more than a barbaric act against a vulnerable family of animals. Whilst Sea Shepherd ribs try to throw ropes into the propellers of the ships, the sailors respond by firing water cannons at the activists. In the dangerous environment of the high seas, accidents are a frequent occurrence, with one Sea Shepherd ship being damaged in bad weather this year, and another, the Ady Gil, sunk following a collision with a whaler in 2010. Both sides have had their actions condemned by Governments around the world, and both accuse the other of "eco-terrorism."