After skipping bail, ocean activist with local ties returns to sea
SEATTLE (AP) — The founder of the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd is returning to Antarctic waters to track and confront Japanese whaling fleets, months after skipping bail in Germany and going on the run.
From aboard a Sea Shepherd ship, Paul Watson told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his job is to protect whales, and he can't do that if he's in custody. He said the Sea Shepherd fleet is already in the Southern Ocean.
"I want to stay in the ocean," the 62-year-old said. "I'm not going to be able to do that from some holding cell in Japan."
In July, Watson fled from Germany after being arrested at the behest of the Costa Rican government, which is pursuing him on a warrant that claims he endangered a fishing vessel crew in 2002.
Watson contends the Costa Rican charges were filed because of pressure from the Japanese government and that he eventually would have been extradited to Japan if he had remained in custody.
Shortly after his arrest in May, Sea Shepherd issued a statement saying Watson was filming a documentary at the time of the alleged incident, which took place in Guatemalan waters in 2002.
Friday Harbor-based group said it encountered an illegal shark finning operation run by a Costa Rican ship, the Varadero, and told the crew to stop and head to port to be prosecuted. The crew accused Watson's team of trying to kill them by ramming their ship.
Watson, a Canadian citizen, left Greenpeace in 1977 to set up the more action-oriented Sea Shepherd. The group has waged aggressive campaigns to protect whales, dolphins and other marine animals, prompting Japanese officials to label its members terrorists and seek Watson's arrest for allegedly masterminding violent protests.
The environmental group, based in Friday Harbor, gained fame after being featured in the "Whale Wars" reality TV show.
Sea Shepherd activists use stink bombs and other nonlethal means to interfere with the whalers. The group argues its activities are supported by international law.
This year, the group is calling their campaign "Operation Zero Tolerance" and will feature four main ships, one helicopter and drones.
Watson said the drones will be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and documentation. He said the drones are military-quality and can fly hundreds of miles head of his ships.
Watson also said it's unlikely he'll return to the U.S., saying American authorities would likely turn him over to Japan.
In February, a U.S. federal judge in Seattle declined to restraint the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's activities, turning down a request by the Institute for Cetacean Research, the Japanese whalers.
From aboard a Sea Shepherd ship, Paul Watson told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his job is to protect whales, and he can't do that if he's in custody. He said the Sea Shepherd fleet is already in the Southern Ocean.
"I want to stay in the ocean," the 62-year-old said. "I'm not going to be able to do that from some holding cell in Japan."
In July, Watson fled from Germany after being arrested at the behest of the Costa Rican government, which is pursuing him on a warrant that claims he endangered a fishing vessel crew in 2002.
Watson contends the Costa Rican charges were filed because of pressure from the Japanese government and that he eventually would have been extradited to Japan if he had remained in custody.
Shortly after his arrest in May, Sea Shepherd issued a statement saying Watson was filming a documentary at the time of the alleged incident, which took place in Guatemalan waters in 2002.
Friday Harbor-based group said it encountered an illegal shark finning operation run by a Costa Rican ship, the Varadero, and told the crew to stop and head to port to be prosecuted. The crew accused Watson's team of trying to kill them by ramming their ship.
Watson, a Canadian citizen, left Greenpeace in 1977 to set up the more action-oriented Sea Shepherd. The group has waged aggressive campaigns to protect whales, dolphins and other marine animals, prompting Japanese officials to label its members terrorists and seek Watson's arrest for allegedly masterminding violent protests.
The environmental group, based in Friday Harbor, gained fame after being featured in the "Whale Wars" reality TV show.
Sea Shepherd activists use stink bombs and other nonlethal means to interfere with the whalers. The group argues its activities are supported by international law.
This year, the group is calling their campaign "Operation Zero Tolerance" and will feature four main ships, one helicopter and drones.
Watson said the drones will be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and documentation. He said the drones are military-quality and can fly hundreds of miles head of his ships.
Watson also said it's unlikely he'll return to the U.S., saying American authorities would likely turn him over to Japan.
In February, a U.S. federal judge in Seattle declined to restraint the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's activities, turning down a request by the Institute for Cetacean Research, the Japanese whalers.
This guy is a freaking nut job, anyone who would go on the water with him has drank way to much of his koolaid. Their boats should be impounded for putting others lives in danger and he should be prosecuted. He is a fat worthless slob.
The Japanese are far more patient with these people than I'd be. I wonder if New Zealand or Australia hold up to their international commitments with regards to wanted criminals. The Sea Shepard ports in that area for fuel and supplies.
I admire what Paul and the Sea Shepard group do. If you have ever watched Whale Wars you would see how the Japanese are illegally killing whales. For "Research" my butt!
 Paul Watson told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his job is to protect whales, and he can't do that if he's in custody.
Just exactly who made him god? What he's doing does nothing. If people have a conviction against Japanese whaling then stop buying Japanese products cut off trade with them. Or better yet let the UN arrest them. Naaa that is not going to happen.
 @Grumpa On the contrary, he has raised awareness, and prevented the Japanese fleets from meeting their quota year over year.
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For christ sakes Grumpa, he has gotten you to comment about him, in this forum on this little webpage. Â
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His campaign has been very successful.
If a tin badge stops a bullet, get a bigger gun. I'll buy the ammo.
You gotta hand it to him, he has conviction ... I like that !
staying on the right side of the law is always helpful, taking the law into your own hands and endangering other lives over fish, now he cant help at all. i wish them the best of luck and please do it safely and in a less dangerous way.Â
 @maggie112 Actually they are the right side of the law, it's the Japanese whalers violating whaling laws. We should send the US Navy down there for some training missions and blow these boats out of the water.Â
I hope the whalers have a zero tolerance to his interference. People need to start standing up to these enviro nut wackos.
BAh. Someone harpoon his ass already. I bet no one will even come looking.
The sea was angry that day, my friends... like an old man trying to return soup at a deli!Â
I was watching the show when some orcas started hunting seals for their food and the Sea Sheppard people started crying. I found that to be very humorous because they're protecting the whales but when the whales feed they get butthurt over the whole thing.
 @Rockberry nah, my favorite was when he stopped a bullet with his badge.