Anti-whaling activists removed from harpoon ship

TWO anti-whaling activists who boarded a Japanese harpoon ship in a protest were last night transferred to an Australian vessel.

The men were moved in a compromise agreement brokered by the Australian government after the Japanese fleet and environmental group Sea Shepherd appeared to be deadlocked over their fate.

The intervention will allow the whaling fleet resume its hunt in Antarctic waters, chased by the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin.