Japan has suspended its annual whale hunt in the Antarctic for now after a hardline anti-whaling group gave chase to its mother ship and it may call the fleet back home, a government official said.

日本某政府官员日前表示，由于捕鲸船队母舰受到态度强硬的反捕鲸团体的追捕，将暂停本年度在南极海域的捕鲸活动，并可能下令捕鲸船队返航。

Regular attempts by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to interrupt hunts have caused irritation in Japan, one of only three countries that now hunt whales and where the government says it is an important cultural tradition.

海洋守护者协会常规的反捕鲸活动引发了日本民众的不满。

目前全球仅有三个国家还在捕鲸，日本是其中之一，而且日本政府表示捕鲸是该国重要的文化传统。

"Putting safety as a priority, the fleet has halted scientific whaling for now.

We are currently considering what to do hereafter," said Tatsuya Nakaoku, an official at the Fisheries Agency.

日本水产厅官员中奥达也说：为安全起见，捕鲸船队已暂停了以科研为目的的猎捕。

我们正考虑今后怎么办。

”When asked if Japan was considering bringing back the fleet earlier than planned, he said this remained an option and added that Japan's whaling plans were not going smoothly.

在被问及日本是否会考虑提前结束捕鲸时，他表示有这种可能，还说日本的捕鲸计划一直不顺。

Representatives for Sea Shepherd were not immediately available for comment.

海洋守护者协会的代表还没有对此发表评论。

【[双语]日本或将暂停捕鲸计划查看网站：[db:时间]】