Stock Market

Australian federal police boarded the anti-whaling ship Steve Irwin, operated by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and removed equipment today after a request from Japanese authorities.

Police boarded the ship at 9 a.m. local time, copying files from a hard drive and taking samples of equipment used to disrupt whaling, Locky MacLean, the vessel’s first officer, said today by telephone. The officers searched the boat after a request from Japan, Agence France-Presse reported today, citing a federal police spokesman it didn’t name.

Japanese whalers have clashed in recent years with activists from Sea Shepherd. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said last month he will take Japan to the International Court of Justice unless it agrees to stop killing whales in Antarctica. A powerboat skippered by New Zealander Peter Bethune sank after a collision with a Japanese harpoon vessel on Jan. 6.

“The Japanese government has resolutely sought cooperation from Australia regarding the illegal and dangerous activities of Sea Shepherd,” said Yutaka Aoko, director of the fisheries division at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.