Japan's infamous whaling industry may be in retreat as it considers cutting short its hunt due to immense pressure from conservation group, Sea Shepherd.

The largest factory vessel in the whaling fleet, the Nisshin Maru, has suspended its operations and is being tailed by Sea Shepherd's boat, the Bob Barker, as it heads east towards South America.

Sea Shepherd founder and captain Paul Watson remains cautious about the apparent retreat, fearing the Nisshin Maru may circumnavigate Antarctica and return to its whaling waters at a later date.

Update: Friday, 18 Feb, 2.37pm: The Nisshin Maru has now changed direction and is heading West back toward the Bob Barker.

Watch the 'Whale Wars' video (top left)

Sea Shepherd's Peter Hammarstedt told Radio National the Japanese fleet just a fraction of their quota of 1,035 minke, humpback and fin whales.

"This year we had a very specific goal that we were going to try to get the Japanese whaling quota down as close to zero kills as possible," he said.

"And this year we'll be surprised if they even get 10 per cent of their quota. We've been with these guys from the first day of the hunting season."

He said that the whaling fleet had managed to kill between 30 and 100 whales.

Minke whales are regular visitors to our area during winter months as part of their migration route, and attract thousands of visitors each year keen to catch a glimpse.