Japanese whaler stops outside Aust waters

A Japanese whaling ship that was pursuing anti-whaling activists has stopped just outside Australian waters after an apparent intervention by the government.

The Yushin Maru No.3, one of three Japanese harpoon ships, was tailing the Sea Shepherd's Bob Barker vessel.

Sea Shepherd says the Bob Barker crossed into Australia's exclusive economic zone 320 kilometres from Macquarie Island at 2.50pm AEDT on Friday, but the Japanese ship stopped about a kilometre outside the zone.

Sea Shepherd Australia chair Bob Brown said Environment Minister Greg Hunt had been in touch with Japanese authorities over the impending incursion into the Australian Whale Sanctuary.

"Once again Sea Shepherd has seen the Japanese whaling fleet's tactics thwarted," Dr Brown said in a statement.

"But we are mindful that the fleet is publicly committed to killing another 931 Minke whales as well as 50 fin whales and 50 humpbacks."

Australian Whale Sanctuary managing director Jeff Hansen said he called Mr Hunt to pass on Sea Shepherd's sincere thanks and appreciation for his efforts.

Comment is being sought from Mr Hunt.

Sea Shepherd has three ships and about 100 crew members from 21 countries in Antarctic waters to confront Japanese hunting in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, where commercial whaling is banned.

Earlier this week, Sea Shepherd said its ships drove the Japanese fleet's factory ship, Nisshin Maru, out of the Antarctic Treaty zone following a 580km chase.