SYDNEY (AFP) – Anti-whaling activists Tuesday accused Japanese harpooners of using water cannons, loudspeakers and military-grade acoustic weapons as part of a "bizarre" high seas pursuit in the Antarctic.
The Sea Shepherd animal rights group said a Japanese vessel closed in on their boat, the Steve Irwin, with "water cannons blazing" and activated long-range acoustical devices (LRADs) Tuesday afternoon.
Paul Watson, captain of the Steve Irwin, said the Shonan Maru No.2 blasted his crew with warnings from its loudspeaker that it had "authority to repel."
"The Japanese harpoon vessel Shonan Maru No. 2 is engaging in some very bizarre activities," Watson said.
He said the Japanese vessel set off the Steve Irwin's collision alert system 14 times as it chased and circled for over two hours of "harassment."
"The crew of the Steve Irwin has been trying to get the Shonan Maru No. 2 off their trail for 11 days," Watson said.
The Steve Irwin also used its water cannon, Watson said, and the exchanges "made the crew on both ships very wet but there were no direct hits causing any injuries."
LRAD is a device sometimes used for crowd control and also by US forces in Iraq. It has also been used by ships to repel pirates in waters off Somalia, according to reports.
Sea Shepherd activists have pursued the Japanese fleet over the past six hunting seasons and claim to have saved the lives of hundreds of whales.
Japan killed nearly 700 whales last year using a loophole in an international moratorium that allows "lethal research".
Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands have called for restraint on both sides after a collision last year and incidents when the activists hurled rancid butter and stink bombs.