"Three Australian environmental activists were detained on board a Japanese whaling ship on Sunday after boarding in protest at Japan's annual whale cull in the Antarctic, anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd said.

The three activists from Forest Rescue, an Australian group specializing in direct action to prevent logging, boarded the ship early on Sunday with assistance from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Sea Shepherd said in a statement.

U.S.-based Sea Shepherd is tailing Japan's whaling fleet as it heads towards the Southern Ocean to try to prevent the cull.

The statement described the activists as 'prisoners now detained on a Japanese whaler.'"

Reuters had the story January 8, 2012. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Japanese Whaling Ship 'Lost' By Australian Govt After Stunt Caught on Video" (AAP) [3]

"HUNGER STRIKE: Desperate Measures for Detained Sea Shepherd Whale Protesters" (news.com.au) [4]

"Damaged Sea Shepherd Vessel to Be Docked for Rest of Campaign " (ecorazzi) [5]

"Australia Urges Release Of Whaling Activists On Japan Ship" (Reuters) [6]