it says harassment by anti-whaling activists is putting the whalers' lives in danger. fisheries minister michihiko kano announced the decision on friday. kano called the interference by the sea shepherd protesters deplorable. he said the ministry will ask the group not to conduct such an activity again. he added that his ministry still has not decided on whether a whaling mission will be dispatched next year. the fleet of four japanese whalers hope to catch about 850 whales by mid march, but they have so far only caught about 170. since january 1st, the protesters have obstructed whaling operations on nine occasions. they include tossing stink bombs at one of the ships and throwing ropes into the ocean to entangle the ship's propeller. the ministry says the whaling vessels are not fast enough to flee from the sea shepherd's boats. >>> australia has welcomed japan's decision to halt whaling activities for the season. the country's environment minister says he hopes it marks a permanent end to the hunt. tony burke expressed his joy and apprehension over the cancellation

. >> the standoff has been taking place between japanese whalers intent on carrying out their hunt antique environmentalist's determined to stop them. the sea shepherd group has pursued the flight towards the southern tip of south america. >> the mother ship of the willing fleet has been -6- hear the safety of the fleet we have suspended the operations. we find the harassment extremely regrettable. activists are being confronting the japanese fleet for years. one of their boats collapsed -- collided with a boat and sank. the captain was brought to tokyo to face trial. he was given a suspended sentence and allowed to go home. whales have been protected from hunting for a quarter of a century. japan has continued, saying it needs to kill whales to research their impact on fish stock. much of the meat is sold and ends up in supermarkets or restaurant dinner plates. will use to be widely served in school lunches but these days you eat it regularly. tons of will meet is lying unsold in warehouses. many object to what they see as an interference in a japanese position. abandoning wailing is bare

japanese whalers are intent on carrying out their annual hunt. environmentalists are determined to stop them. the group says they have pursued the fleet right out of its wailing ground. now japan's government has suspended the hon. >> the mother ship has been tailed since february 10 to secure the safety, operations have been suspended. we find this harassment very regrettable. >> activists have been can fronting region confronting the fleet for years. the boat's captain was brought to tokyo to face trial. given a suspended sentence and allowed to go home. whales have been protected from commercial hunting for over one quarter of the century byte international moratorium. japan has continued, saying that they need to kill whales to research the impact on fish stock. much of the meat is sold and winds up in supermarkets. here in japan, well used to be widely served in school lunches. tons of whale meat is said to be unsold in warehouses. many people object to what they see as an unwarranted interference in a japanese cultural tradition. abandoning

between japanese whalers and -- intent on tearing down their annual hunt and environmentalist determined to stop them. the group says it has pursued the fleet right out of the swelling ground toward the southern tip of south america. japan's government has suspended the hunt. >> the mother ship of the wheeling police -- wailing fleet has been killed since february 10. we have suspended the operation. we find the harassment extremely regrettable. the activists are being can -- have been confronting the fleet for years. one of their boats collided and sank. the boat's captain was brought to tokyo to face trial after later boarding a japanese ship. he was given a suspended sentence and allowed to go home. wells have been protected from commercial hunting for over a century bred -- century. japan has continued, that needs to kill whales to research their impact on fish stock. much of the meat is sold an insect in supermarkets or in a restaurant dinner plates. -- sold or in up in supermarkets. you eat it regularly. tons of oil meat is set to beat stored in warehouses. many people object to wh

this is the first time the whalers have stopped their season early. >>> and now, for this morning's weather from around the nation. stormy out west, with high surf and drenching rain from l.a. to san francisco. showers arnold seattle and portland. one to two feet of snow in the sierras, cascades and rockies. cooling down in the midwest. warmer along the east coast. and summer-like in the south. >> highs near 80 from dallas to miami. 71 in baltimore. and 62 in new york. man, that sounds good. just 10 in fargo. 29 in the twin cities. 48 in chicago. 40s from seattle to salt lake city. 50 in sacramento. 68 out in phoenix. >> we're getting there. it's warming up. >> yes. >>> when we come back, good news for travelers. which airfares are going back down. >>> and spectacular images from space, causing communications problems right here on earth. >>> and the first family of reality tv, celebrating a huge payday. $65 million. c@c@ >>> federal regulators may have questions for apple over its new magazine and newspaper subscription service. published reports say the justice department and ftc are look