The captain of the anti-while ship, Paul Watson, says he was shot, but saved by a Kevlar vest.

Japan denies a shot was fired. The coast guard says the crew of the whaling ship, Nisshin Maru, threw stun grenades after the activists threw rotten butter, bottles and bags of white powder at the processing ship.

Watson says they were throwing stink bombs.

Japan kills about 1,000 whales every year under what it calls a scientific research program. Sea Shepherd and other anti-whaling groups have repeatedly harassed the Japanese whaling fleet.

In this photo released by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a member of the Japanese coast guard, second from left, throws sound-emitting "warning balls" at the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society anti-whaling vessel.

In this photo released by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, captain of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship, Paul Watson holds a bullet and a bent badge, from aboard the anti-whaling vessel, Friday, March 7, 2008, in Antarctic Waters.