World | Japan Whales Fall as Hunt Resumes With Greenpeace gone to refuel, fleet harpoons 5 more By Jane Yager Posted Feb 1, 2008 9:45 AM CST Copied The Greenpeace protest vessel Esperanza leaves the New Zealand port of Auckland for Antarctic waters, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, determined to find the Japanese whaling fleet. (AP Photo/NZPA,Wayne Drought) (Associated Press) Japanese whalers have resumed their hunt in Antarctic waters, killing at least five whales when protest ships pulled back to refuel, the Australian News Network reports. Witnesses reported seeing the whales harpooned in the Southern Ocean after ships from Greenpeace and another protest group withdrew. In Tokyo, the Australian foreign minister protested the resumed hunt. Australia is "extremely disappointed" about the expedition, which defies the "wishes of the Australian people," said a spokesman. Anti-whaling groups "want you to think that whales are endangered, but nothing could be further from the truth," the whalers argue. The hunt has been classified as a scientific expedition by Japan, which has a yearly quota to cull 1,000 whales. Read These Next New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. Man accused of killing his daughters might be dead. Supreme Court ruling is a big blow to Planned Parenthood. Report an error