Japan says it is not interested in cutting its whaling program in the Antarctic in return for being allowed to resume commercial whaling in coastal waters.

Under a compromise plan drawn up by the head of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Japan would have its annual quota of minke whales in the Antarctic slashed from 935 to 400.

It would then reduce its catch to 200 over the following five years.

In exchange, Japan would be allowed to resume its commercial hunt for up to 120 minke whales a year in its own waters.

This would mean Japan's four traditional whaling communities could return to hunting for the first time since 1988.

But Japan has turned down the deal and Australia and New Zealand oppose it, which means any possible agreement at the IWC meeting in Morocco in June looks highly unlikely.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett says Australia remains opposed to both commercial whaling and Japan's so-called lethal scientific whaling.

Japan opposes the compromise because it aims to cut their Antarctic catch.

The country's fisheries minister, Hirotaka Akamatsu, says the plan goes against what Japan has been requesting.

"Japan greatly appreciates the proposal to allow us to resume coastal whaling," he said.

"But Japan cannot accept a cut in its Antarctic whaling ... it's too drastic."

Japan wants both a resumption of commercial whaling and a continuation of the Antarctic hunt.

It plans to ratchet up the pressure to push up the proposed quotas as much as possible before the IWC meeting.

So this means that unless one side - Australia or Japan - caves in, then nothing is likely to come out of the Morocco talks.

With an election in Australia this year and the Japanese government shackled to powerful pro-whaling interests and constituencies, the IWC compromise is likely to be the next thing facing the harpoon.