The captain of an anti-whaling protest ship says he believes reports in some Australian newspapers that Japanese whalers have been chartering Australian planes to track the ship's movements in the Southern Ocean.
Japan's whalers are in the Southern Ocean at present, where each year they kill up to 1000 whales under a so-called scientific whaling programme.
Fairfax newspapers are reporting that a public relations company linked to Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research chartered planes in Australia to track the Sea Shepherd's ship the Steve Irwin in December.
Steve Irwin captain Paul Watson says he thinks those on board the plane reported his ship's position to a Japanese whale chasing boat.
Mr Watson says his crew noticed a plane in December but thought it belonged to the Australian government. However, six hours later, a Japanese vessel showed up and tailed them for about three weeks.
Australia's federal opposition is calling for the government to investigate the flights and put a stop to them.
