As the Steve Irwin approached the equator last week, word that Japan would be sending a strengthened whaling fleet to Antarctica next month reached the bridge of the old Aberdeen-built customs vessel.

海洋守护者协会的“史蒂夫-欧文”号由英国阿伯丁制造，过去是海关缉私船。 上星期它在赤道附近，收到消息说下个月日本将派遣一个加强的捕鲸舰队到南极。

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And we urge all countries, especially our friends in Japan, to bring their whaling programs to an end.

我们力劝所有的国家，尤其是我们在日本的朋友们，请停止你们的鲸鱼项目。

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Whatof Australia's repeated but unheeded warnings to Japan that if itdoesn't stop whaling we would instigate international court action?

澳大利亚一再警告日本，如果不停止捕鲸，我们将向国际法院提起诉讼，而日本却不加理会。这种告诫有什么用？

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Australia has set a November deadline to zero, for Japan to stop whaling in Antarctic waters, or face international court action.

VOA: standard.2010.02.20

Japan's whaling fleet is currently on its annual hunt in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean, where it aims to catch about 1,000 whales.

VOA: standard.2010.01.05

According to the Japan Whaling Association, whale meat accounted for 48% of Japanese meat consumption in the 1960s (it was included in school lunches until 1985).

FORBES: The Wrongest Meal

Australia is also taking legal action against Japan over whaling.

BBC: US court brands whale activists Sea Shepherd 'pirates'

Masayuki Komatsu led Japan's whaling negotiations until his retirement from the fisheries ministry three years ago.

NPR: Debate Over Whale Hunt Focuses On Japan