Mark Willacy reported this story on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 08:18:00

TONY EASTLEY: As Japan's whaling fleet sails for home, some supporters of the so-called scientific program are enraged that this year's hunt has been called off early.



Japan says it's bringing the fleet home ahead of schedule because of harassment by the Sea Shepherd group.



One former Japanese delegate to the International Whaling Commission has told AM he sees the early pull out as cowardice.



North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy reports from Tokyo.



(Sounds from restaurant freezer)



MARK WILLACY: With the Japanese whaling fleet in retreat from the Southern Ocean, Michio Kono is worried about his precious whale stocks.



At the back of his restaurant inside two large freezers are brick-sized slabs of blood red meat, all of it harvested in the Southern Ocean under the banner of Japan's so-called scientific whaling program.



But ask chef Kono about the decision to curtail this year's hunt and his face flushes with frustration and his voice rises with rage.



(Sound of chef Kono speaking)



"I think the Government is full of cowards," he says. "Whale meat is delicious and healthy. It's part of our culture. This decision is pitiful," he adds.



For 40 years chef Kono has served up whale stew, whale steaks and whale sashimi to his loyal clientele.



He fears this year's hunt could be the last in the Southern Ocean, after the Sea Shepherd conservation group hindered and harassed the Japanese fleet, restricting its catch to just 170 minke whales, or one-fifth of its quota.



(Sound of chef Kono speaking)



"Japan must continue research whaling," says chef Kono.



"We are following the rules of the International Whaling Commission, Sea Shepherd is not," he says.



It's not just restaurateurs who are enraged by the whaling fleet's inglorious retreat. Masayuki Komatsu is a former Japanese delegate to the International Whaling Commission.



MASAYUKI KOMATSU: I think it's very coward action. I really regret that they decided to come back saying that it's a matter of safety of the life.



MARK WILLACY: And to Masayuki Komatsu, it's not just Sea Shepherd which is to blame for the reduced catch and the fleet's retreat from the icy waters of the Southern Ocean.



MASAYUKI KOMATSU: I think Australia's position is very much disappointing, and perhaps lots of Japanese really not happy with the action taken by Australia.



MARK WILLACY: But there could be another less dramatic reason for Japan calling an early end to the hunt.



In freezers around the country is a record stockpile of 6,000 tonnes of unwanted whale meat.



This is Mark Willacy in Tokyo for AM.