3 whalers injured in clash

Three Japanese crew members were injured after protesters aboard two anti-whaling vessels owned by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society fired bottles of butyric acid onto a research whaling vessel in the Antarctic Ocean.

The Fisheries Agency said Friday it was the first time Japanese crew members had been injured in the current expedition.

The crew aboard No. 2 Shonan Maru felt pain on their skin, but their vision had returned to normal as they washed their eyes immediately after being hit with the foul-smelling acid.

The U.S-based group tossed bottles containing butyric acid, a chemical found in rancid butter and vomit that can cause pain to the skin and eyes, according to the agency.

At high concentrations, the acid can cause loss of eyesight.

The protesters' ships clashed with the Japanese whaling fleet intermittently between 6 p.m. Thursday and 1:30 a.m. Friday Japan time, the agency said.