The agency declined to comment specifically on Sea Shepherd 's claims or on the fleet 's exact whereabouts . An anti - whaling group says it split up Japan 's fleet and chased it out of the Antarctic zone . ` ` Within a day and a half , we have the entire Japanese fleet in disarray , '' an official says . He says the Japanese ships are still in the Southern Ocean and the hunt continues . Environmental groups clash each year with Japan 's whaling vessels .
An anti - whaling group says it split up Japan 's fleet and chased it out of the Antarctic zone . ` ` Within a day and a half , we have the entire Japanese fleet in disarray , '' an official says . He says the Japanese ships are still in the Southern Ocean and the hunt continues . Environmental groups clash each year with Japan 's whaling vessels .