Environmental activists have released video, which they claim shows a Japanese harpoon ship colliding with one of their vessels.<br /><br /> This purportedly captures the moment of impact on board Sea Shepherd’s boat – The Bob Barker.<br /><br /> “Shortly after midnight this morning (Sunday), the three harpoon ships from the Japanese whaling fleet began circling The Bob Barker and The Steve Irwin,” said Kelly Higgins, a Sea Shepherd crew member. <br /><br /> “They were overtaking our vessels at extremely close proximity, sometimes coming within three to five metres of our bow.”<br /><br /> Sea Shepherd activists have been tracking a Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean – in a bid to disrupt an annual hunt. <br /><br /> Japanese media reported that three Japanese vessels, engaged in so-called research whaling, were obstructed by Sea Shepherd, with activists lowering several small boats to block them.<br /><br /> Australia and New Zealand are challenging the legality of Japan’s hunt at the Hague.<br /><br /> Australia says more than 10,000 whales have <br />been killed since the start of the international <br />moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986.
