ANTI-WHALING protesters returning from the Southern Ocean say they have likely saved more than 500 whales this season.
The protest ship, Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin, began the trip back to Melbourne overnight after running low on fuel and should arrive on Saturday, said the vessel's captain Paul Watson.
He said this year's protest had been successful for the whales, with Japan probably taking less than half its stated quota of 935 minke and 50 endangered fin whales.
Japan has so far refused to release the number of whales killed by its fleet this season, citing security reasons.
Mr Watson said only about nine days were left for whaling to still occur, before icy conditions in the Southern Ocean put a stop to the hunt.
(Mr Watson said after he arrived in Melbourne he would cooperate with the Australian Federal Police if they wished to perform analysis of the bullet he said was fired at him.)
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