Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd Founder, Released From Frankfurt Jail

FRANKFURT, Germany -- The founder of the environmental activist group Sea Shepherd has left a German jail after a court ordered him freed on bail pending a decision on whether he will be extradited to Costa Rica.

Paul Watson told reporters he was relieved to be free, a week after his detention at Frankfurt Airport on a Costa Rican warrant. He said Monday: "I didn't expect something that happened 10 years ago to sneak up on me in Germany."

Costa Rica claims that Watson, a 61-year-old Canadian, endangered a fishing boat and its crew in 2002. Sea Shepherd says Watson was filming a documentary in 2002 when his team encountered an illegal shark-finning operation in Guatemalan waters.

Last Friday, a Frankfurt court ruled that Watson could be freed on (EURO)250,000 ($320,000) bail.

Also on HuffPost:

From our partners

• 10 Of The Worst Wildfires In U.S. History - Mother Nature Network
• 5 Energy Projects Being Backed By The U.S. Government - Mother Nature Network
• The Stunning Rise In California Solar Generation - EarthTechling

Comments

[smkurkowski]

07:26 AM on 05/25/2012

Whale Wars Viking Shores was one of the lamest RS I have ever watched. Animal Planet and Paul Watson should be embarrassed by this series. Declaring victory over the Faroese pilot whale harvesting does not make it so. These Danish decedents probably can not stand up they are laughing so hard.

[William Sidmore]

09:30 PM on 05/26/2012

Laughing, in the face of innocent slaughter is proof positive of these folk's ignorance to view life in it's most wonderful state...Love. To kill anything is a display of less than what Love would view as a mature being. So, many Humans are in 'Adolescent phase' of existence, and patience is perpetuating slaughter in their personal perceptions. (Too young to be embarrassed).

[smkurkowski]

06:27 AM on 05/27/2012

I'm from Minnesota we traditionally hunt and fish to stay in touch with the great out doors and our fore fathers. I see nothing different with this situation. The laughing is at the Sea Shepherds because they had an infinitesimally small affect on this tradition.

[RudyHaugeneder]

08:41 PM on 05/22/2012

Captain Paul Watson is to marine life what President Abe Lincoln was to slaves: A freedom fighter!

[Bklein153]

12:15 PM on 05/24/2012

ARE YOU SERIOUS. lolol

[Cowoak]

04:20 PM on 05/22/2012

I once watched Whale Wars, they didn't do anything but waste a bunch of fuel.

[chucker980]

09:16 AM on 05/22/2012

Maybe these guys should come to Haiti and visit the local waters

[AgainstAnimalAbuse]

12:49 AM on 05/22/2012

Love this guy and his crew! Long live Sea Shepherd!

[evecaren]

08:33 AM on 05/22/2012

Paul Watson, captain of the Sea Shepherd are amazing. Atleast Mr. Watson has
been released on bail and is no longer in the Frankfurt prison. I sincerely hope Paul Watson
is not extradited to Costa Rica for an event that happened 10 years ago. Paul Watson
and his crew are my heroes because of their dedication to saving whales and other
sea animals.

[KPinSEA]

12:44 AM on 05/22/2012

Every minute this guy isn't in a wheelhouse, the seas are safer.

[Hazel128]

11:14 AM on 05/22/2012

the seas may be safer (in your opinion) - but the animals that live IN it aren't.

**Proud supporter of Sea Shepherd**

[mollymac]

03:45 PM on 05/22/2012

Seriously? I LOVE him!

[catlady1954]

12:43 AM on 05/22/2012

I'm glad Mr. Watson was released. Whales and sharks need MORE activists like him and his crew. Humans are the most destructive animal on this planet.

[taeyyenom1]

10:30 PM on 05/21/2012

this just a setup

[ardale]

09:47 PM on 05/21/2012

Dont get me wrong, this a great cause. But am i the only one out their who thinks these guys are as much about themselves as they are the whales?

[Patric Douglas]

12:40 AM on 05/22/2012

Yes after 38 years of trying they have failed to stop sealing, whaling, tuna, and shark harvests. Not to mention Paul Watsons faked assassination video to secure Season two of Whalr Wars.

Pathetic.

[MrSimythe]

01:33 PM on 05/22/2012

Don't forget the money...it's as much about the money too.

[jhnnxn]

08:14 PM on 05/21/2012

Imagine pretending to value the life of a whale more highly than your own. What a con! What? He not pretending? Sheer insanity.

[mollymac]

03:49 PM on 05/22/2012

You are inane. We have few whales and way too many homo sapiens. We are so ego centric that we think we are above reproach. If we don't stop reproducing and destroying the planet and all its inhabitants,we won't have to worry about who's the biggest shot.

[jhnnxn]

04:54 PM on 05/22/2012

What have/are you doing about it? Have any children? Killed anyone lately?

[Jason Fleece]

05:02 PM on 05/21/2012

Boycott Costa Rica as a tourist destination.

[Coronadoman]

04:16 PM on 05/21/2012

What many comments fail to reflect is that Mr. Watson is keenly aware of the consequences of his, and his colleagues, actions, including jail. Wrongly imprisoning Mr. Watson will drive awareness, support and renewed energy to address wrong, failed and dangerous policies and actions. I think some people used to call it civil disobedience, but then, maybe I'm a geezer...Rock on, Mr. Watson, the world is with you.

[Patric Douglas]

12:40 AM on 05/22/2012

Actually it is not.

[DoctorDirector]

03:52 AM on 05/22/2012

You're not. A lot of others are.

[singsingsing]

08:34 AM on 05/22/2012

Actually IT IS !

[dayala]

11:59 AM on 05/22/2012

from one geezer to another...right on!

[ceekreewd]

03:03 PM on 05/21/2012

Someone in Costa Rica is getting a lot of Japanese yen...

[Wendy521968]

08:48 PM on 05/21/2012

Ive said that from the very beginning too... Japan has tried in EVERY way to get him.. and Costa Rica was their ticket to getting Capt. Paul Watson off thier butts.. what they fail to understand.. if something does happen where Paul can't run SSCS... there are thousands and thousands more to keep ON GOING!! What is Japan going to do?? Put us all on an island and bomb it? And I think its awesome that this has in a way.. backfired on them.. he and SSCS are now getting tons and tons of publicity...

[dayala]

05:02 PM on 05/22/2012

make no mistake, Japan is behind this. as you pointed out they've tried everything under the sun and nothing has worked. they are also angry about the Taji dolphin slaughter and the constant vigil that is taking place there spearheaded by Watson and Ric Barry to keep the issue at the forefront of international exposure.

[lk415]

02:51 PM on 05/21/2012

Paul Watson is a true hero, and any persecution of him and his mission to save whales and sharks will only magnify his message. Go, Paul!

[Charles Elk]

01:58 PM on 05/21/2012

These people are no better than Somali pirates. Sink 'em.

[animal lover 01]

03:40 PM on 05/21/2012

They are heroes. I just watched the latest episodes of the horrors of what human beings do to innocent creatures. I love every one of them for all they do. I only wish I could take the time from work and my family to be with them. Someone has to speak for those who cannot, this planet is not all about human lives only.

[plans includingdog]

04:43 PM on 05/21/2012

So we can kill whales!NO! Do people even know what critically endangered means!

[ddpalmerr]

07:43 PM on 05/21/2012

Do you know that the species being hunted aren't critically endangered?