Search for whaler off

A Japanese whaler is missing in the Southern Ocean, presumed drowned.

The 31-year-old crewman was noticed missing from the Kyoshin Maru No 2 at 7.30am yesterday.

The New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre was alerted by the Japanese Coastguard at midday.

Search and rescue officer Mike Roberts said a search by the whaling fleet was suspended after it was decided there was no hope.

"The missing man was only wearing overalls when he went into the water. The water temperature was about zero degrees celsius and there was a four-metre swell. The maximum survival time in those conditions is an hour."

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said New Zealand's search and rescue capability in the area was very limited.

Mr Roberts said an Orion would have taken 10 hours to get to the search area.

The incident drew criticism from whaling protest ship Steve Irwin, with captain Paul Watson saying it would have helped search for the missing man but was not asked.