The government in Tokyo has announced that the Japanese whaling fleet will return to the Antarctic this year. The fisheries minister said it’ll be protected by escort vessels The last time Japanese whaling ships went to the Antarctic earlier this year, they were driven out by boats of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The choice for next time was either to send a stronger fleet or to  withdraw . With the national budge  drained  by March’s earthquake and tsunami and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster, many observers thought   withdrawl was the likely option. It was openly discussed by government advisers. Sea Shepherd has pledged to be there too. This was the  closest Japan has come in 25 years to ending its Antarctic whaling program.