The Australian government's Antarctic research and supply ship, the Aurora Australis, had happened across the whalers - in waters claimed by Australia.

Under the Antarctic Treaty, no one owns any part of the continent or the waters surrounding it. However, seven nations (Argentina, Australia, Britain, Chile, France, New Zealand, and Norway) are recognized as "claimant states". In other words, the treaty recognizes that they have made claims to areas of Antarctica, without supporting or denying those claims. Also, no country can restrict access to any part of Antarctica.

Still, that the whaling fleet was caught in waters claimed by Australia, against the Australian government's expressed objections, shows a fair amount of arrogance on the part of the whalers. That the whalers would not even respond to the Australis' instructions to leave the area shows quite a bit more.

The whalers and their sponsors, Japan's Fisheries Ministry, seem to be showing they don't care what Australia or the rest of the world thinks - that they are going to do whatever they want anyway.

Unfortunately, the icebreaker Australis could not stay to persue the matter. It's needed more urgently to the south where the Polar Bird, another Australian research vessel, is trapped in the ice. However, the Australian government will surely protest diplomatically.

And now we have a rough idea about where the whalers are, and the Arctic Sunrise is on the way. Not a bad start to the new year.