New Zealand has condemned¹ Japan's decision to resume whaling in Antarctic waters later this year.

新西兰政府谴责日本今年将继续在南极海域捕鲸的计划。

The New Zealand government described the seas around Antarctica as its neighbourhood, and called Japan's whaling plans "entirely² disrespectful".

Wellington also expressed concern at Japan's plans to increase security to protect its whaling fleet.

Last year Japan cut short its whaling season because of harassment³（骚扰，烦恼） from anti-whaling activists⁵.

Japan's Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano said on Tuesday that extra ships would escort the fleet to the Antarctic.

'Lives at risk'

There has been a ban on commercial whaling for 25 years, but Japan catches about 1,000 whales each year in what it says is a scientific research programme.

Critics say it is commercial whaling in another guise⁶（伪装，装束） .

Japan's fleet sails south to the Antarctic in the autumn each year, returning the following spring.

But last year it returned early, citing safety concerns, after confrontations⁷（对抗，面对） with an anti-whaling activist⁴ group that had followed the fleet south.

The group, Sea Shepherd, has pledged to follow the fleet again this year and obstruct⁸ its hunt.

In the past there have been collisions between its vessels⁹ and the whaling fleet, and its activists have also boarded Japanese vessels.

There had been speculation¹⁰ that the activists' campaign, budget problems in the wake of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami¹¹, and new rules at sea might persuade Tokyo to stop whaling.

But Mr Kano said that this was not the case.

"Japan will conduct the research whaling while strengthening measures against acts of sabotage¹²（破坏活动） , including dispatching Fisheries Agency escort ships," he said.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, expressed alarm at recent statements from Sea Shepherd suggesting its vessels could use life-threatening tactics to stop whalers.

"The New Zealand government has consistently urged all parties to act responsibly during the whaling season, and to avoid actions that may put their lives, or the lives of others, at risk, " Mr McCully said.