Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd Founder, Vows To Continue Work While On The Run

BERLIN -- The founder of environmental group Sea Shepherd vowed Tuesday to continue disrupting Japan's whaling fleet when it heads for the southern oceans this winter, despite authorities in at least three countries seeking his arrest.

Paul Watson, 61, was detained in Germany in May on a Costa Rican extradition warrant that accused him of endangering the crew of a fishing vessel in 2002.

About ten days ago the Canadian, who sees himself as an advocate for whales, sharks and other marine animals, skipped bail after learning that Japan, too, was seeking his extradition from Germany.

"I can serve my clients better at sea than in a Japanese prison cell and I intend to do just that," he said in a statement issued by his U.S.-based group, which didn't disclose his current location. "In December, our ships will sail forth for the ninth campaign to oppose the outlaw Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary."

The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is a vast conservation area around Antarctica in which commercial whaling operations are banned.

Watson said he believed the Japanese warrant related to the collision of a Japanese whaling support ship and a Sea Shepherd boat in January 2010. Sea Shepherd has accused the Japanese ship of deliberately ramming its futuristic, rocket-shaped boat, the Ady Gil, and eventually causing it to sink. The whalers deny the ramming accusation, saying the Ady Gil's captain deliberately put his vessel in their ship's path.

Watson said he expects Japanese authorities "to exploit all avenues to find a way to stop" him.

"I have, however, eluded them once again and I will continue to try and keep a step ahead of them, no matter what risks and costs have to be made," he said

German authorities have issued a warrant for Watson's arrest after he failed to report to police, as required under his bail conditions which also included a (EURO)250,000 ($320,000) bond.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[timabrowne]

01:36 AM on 09/22/2012

first off i fish and eat fish i dont kill fish i am not going to eat
i have watched the whale wars shows for years and all i can say is its wrong
its wrong that they kill all those whales
its wrong that paul watson puts peoples lives in danger for a cause that the world leaders should be fighting
its wrong to ram,bump or damage any ones ship at sea
its attemped murder and endangering the lives of all the crew members aboard both vessels
its one thing to throw lil bottles and paint balls
its another to use deadly flares that could kill or start a ship on fire in the open sea with no help for hundreds of miles
paul turn yourself in and pay for your crimes seashepard will go on without you

[romika3]

09:38 PM on 08/11/2012

Ocean Protector.....is a tee shirt member of the SSCS and nothing more......knows nothing of the history of this organization and its links with sub groups...

[Ocean Protector]

04:16 PM on 08/13/2012

No I am not...although I strongly support SSCS and have done so for many years.

Apparently, you instead are the master of knowledge of everything related to SSCS...or should I call you another very happy supporter of whales, sharks, dolphins, blue fin tuna, etc... poachers?

[romika3]

10:27 AM on 08/14/2012

Many years of experience dealing with this organization that selects issues based on money making and media potential, has chosen to attack legal and managed fisheries ( see this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_gTBDFTXE0 ), chooses to demonize and alienate frontline works (fishermen) rather that working in partnership to resolved issues, tells subscribers to create and distorts data (see his book Earthforce) and the list goes on and on.....Regarding the reference to poachers, do you research most of the fishermen he attacks are not poachers but rather participating in legal and managed fisheries (which include the seal harvest etc)

[romika3]

09:18 PM on 08/11/2012

There is no doubt that there are issues with whales and whale harvesting. Watson however is not the man to deal with it. He had done nothing but exploit for his own interests... TV shows, fancy play toys, apparel, fun in the sun and running about the world attending tea parties and art sales, supporting real estate ventures in Alaska etc etc etc. It is time to put the money with a real conservation organization that deals in stakeholder partnership with the social, economic and environmental components of the issues together......

[Ocean Protector]

04:13 PM on 08/13/2012

Okay so who do you suggest...Greenpeace? LOL

[romika3]

10:30 AM on 08/14/2012

Again, do some research into how "real" conservation organizations work in partnership with stake holders to bring about change on the ground and at the policy level. The SSCS does no of this, in fact there is evidence that Watson circus has resulted in "a digging of heals" and prolonged certain issues....

[Ocean Protector]

04:07 PM on 08/15/2012

"It is time to put the money with a real conservation organization that deals in stakeholder partnership with the social, economic and environmental components of the issues together......"

And who's that exactly???

[romika3]

09:11 PM on 08/11/2012

Paul who......???

[Ocean Protector]

04:13 PM on 08/13/2012

Romika3 who....???

[romika3]

10:33 AM on 08/14/2012

Paul who... still stands..... as he is a "no name" in the real conservation world. His followers become subscribers by purchasing a tee shirt or a piece of cheap jewelry, his board consists of "washups", he has a pretend TV show where he plays a pirate..... etc

[Ocean Protector]

03:23 AM on 08/10/2012

Whale Watch Alaska condemns manhunt for 'Sea Shepherd' captain.
In light of the news late last month that Sea Shepherd’s founder, Captain Paul Watson, had forfeited his bail after being held under house arrest for 70 days in Germany, WWA made the decision today to publicly back the beleaguered captain.

http://www.marinelink.com/news/condemned-captain-manhunt346877.aspx

[Ocean Protector]

10:31 PM on 08/09/2012

I do not know why the US version of the HP did not post this, but I found it in the CA page:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/08/08/interpol-asks-members-to-_n_1756262.html

Please go there and voice your concern about PW illegal treatment by the CR and JP Govs

[mike123456789123456789]

08:40 PM on 08/08/2012

Paul Watson needs to go to jail. If you do the crime, be ready to do the time. What a tough guy who would give his life for the whales, or so he claims. He doesn't even face the whalers, instead he sits on the computer or the bridge. The military teaches to lead by example, so much for whale wars. Send out the cult members to risk their lives. Why don’t all of the self-proclaimed vegans on the Sea Shepherd boats do something worthwhile like saving the honey bees. Instead of wasting time and money on a sustainable species. Apparently they don’t know one third of their food was pollenated by honey bees. If whale meat contains all of the poisons the SS say the country’s that eat them will die off anyway.

[Ocean Protector]

10:37 PM on 08/09/2012

Yes Honey Bees are extremely important, but so are whale, sharks and dolphins.
For example, if sharks are fished out completely from the ocean, [90% already are] the fishes which feed on certain algae will no longer be hunted and eaten by sharks which means they will be able to eat all the algae they want.

Now, those algae of course transform CO2 into Oxygen which is then released in little invisible bubbles all the way to the surface of the ocean and into our atmosphere. So, if these algae are all gone, where do you get 70% of the oxygen that WE humans need to breathe??? Not from the honey bees...right?

PS: I am vegan so I do not eat any animal flesh or byproduct and that includes honey from bees!

[mike123456789123456789]

03:56 PM on 08/10/2012

It is nice not to be called names or belittled for ones beliefs by a SS supported, thank you. I don’t believe in wasting animals. Yes shark finning is a waste, the least they could do is use the rest for fertilizer. I am a hunter and a fisherman, but I don’t kill or catch animals or fish unless I’m going to eat them.
From what I saw on the SS own program they rammed a wooden boat with a steel hulled ship. A captain is responsible for the safe operation of a ship. I have read the UN definitions of piracy. As far as the Andy Gil ramming there appears to be a lot of different versions. So the lawyers can figure that one out.
Please post the research on 90% of the shark population being wiped out, also the information on the algae eating fish population explosion.
The best way to stop shark finning, is create a more profitable way for those poor fisherman to make a living.

[Ocean Protector]

09:10 PM on 08/07/2012

Txexpat; it seems as it's only you and me on this post...everyone else left.

The fact is that I am on the right side, [for the whales] you are on the totally wrong side, [for the poachers] which means you are a very bad person...and that is IT!

[ddpalmerr]

12:53 PM on 08/10/2012

And just like you hero paul you are too much of a coward to post this as a reply to Txexpat. Why wouldn't you post a comment directed at Txexpat to Txexpat?

Oh and you need to learn the definition of poacher, you seem to not know what it means.

[Ocean Protector]

01:16 PM on 08/10/2012

Oh and why do you care? Are you the HP Police now?

Oh and you need to learn the definition of "science" seems it looks like you have no clue of what it means whatsoever!

[Txexpat]

07:36 PM on 08/07/2012

It appears that INTERPOL has issued a RED NOTICE for Mr. Watson.

http://www.interpol.int/Wanted-Persons/(wanted_id)/2012-306798

[Ocean Protector]

09:09 PM on 08/07/2012

Yes because the sissy little German Gov poo in their panties scared of the Japanese Imperialism and nothing else!

[Ocean Protector]

09:27 PM on 08/06/2012

Quote: "Eco-terrorist Captain Paul Watson (aka Osama bin Watson)" End Quote

Please go to: http://www.dallasblog.com/201208061009309/dallas-blog/capt.-watson-says-japanese-dudes-arrest-me.html and blast this pathetic excuse of a "blogger" Mr. McGregor!!!

[Txexpat]

07:43 PM on 08/05/2012

Over a year ago Mr. Watson proclaimed, "Okay already, arrest us, or shut the hell up!" So, this year he was arrested. He then jumps bail and runs away. If he is going to make such bold statements he should have the courge to stand by them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-watson/sea-shepherd-whaling_b_831638.html

[Ocean Protector]

02:51 PM on 08/06/2012

OK; would you like to spend the rest of your life in a Japanese jail?

BTW, "arresting" does not mean necessarily "extradition" and long term "jail sentences" in a country where you are "Enemy # 1" because you are trying to stop their blatant illegal poaching activities in the Souther Ocean Whale Sanctuary...so you see, that statement means more like, let's get Govs involved so once and for all, something is done to stop killing innocent whales and nothing else!

BTW, The Capt of the Shonan Maru #2 who deliberately destroyed the Adi Gil was NEVER reprimanded or brought to justice even though unlike the ridiculously stupid accident with the Varadero 10+ years ago, the vessel was actually destroyed [see Whale Wars] and eventually lost to the abyss!

[Txexpat]

08:55 PM on 08/07/2012

@Ocean Protector

"arresting" does not mean necessarily "extradition" and long term "jail sentences"

"so you see, that statement means more like, let's get Govs involved"

So, Mr. Watson is okay with being arrested, but not with being put in jail??? There is
an old saying: "Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time." Perhaps Mr. Watson should remember that.
I must say that the INTERPOL RED NOTICE certainly will get more "Govs involved"...........In Mr. Watson's arrest and prosecution. ;)

[Ocean Protector]

04:22 PM on 08/04/2012

FYI-

"A senior public prosecutor in Frankfurt, Germany, told QMI Agency authorities are trying to find Watson, but a new international warrant "was not issued."

Gunter Wittig also said Watson's bail money is in limbo.

"A decision has not yet been made on the forfeiture of the 250,000 euro bail," said Wittig."

[Joseph Kool]

01:23 PM on 08/03/2012

Sea Shepperds should be looking for a new leader instead of wasting resources hiding Watson. He's not only become a burden but he's taken the spotlight off the whales.

[Ocean Protector]

01:50 PM on 08/03/2012

Maybe yes or maybe not...but yes all whales are the PRIMARY concern here, so I'd say, how about we STOP killing them altogether and then we won't need SSCS anymore? Simple right...?

[Ocean Protector]

05:26 AM on 08/03/2012

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[Ocean Protector]

05:19 AM on 08/03/2012

Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=Ru3aFjbdV9k&NR=1

I hope all those nice folks get a brain tumor thanks for their insane appetite of whale meet which is loaded with mercury and other super nasty pollutants!

[Ocean Protector]

05:43 AM on 08/03/2012

"for whale meat"...sorry, typing too fast...

[Joseph Kool]

01:25 PM on 08/03/2012

Why so angry? your post is a perfect example of the the sea shepperds using hate as a tool.

[Ocean Protector]

01:45 PM on 08/03/2012

I am not angry at all...my wish goes out to all those idiots who even though they know that eating whale meat is HIGHLY risky for their own health, they still consume it because it is "a tradition". It is like saying, I drink arsenic a few times a week because my family has been doing it for 100 years. If the FDA says that by eating some fish can cause me to develop cancer, I would stop immediately, but maybe the Japanese version of the FDA is corrupt too so there you go. There is NO hate here, just the fact that if Japanese consumers were to get their head out of their *** and stop eating whale meat altogether and also protest against their corrupt Gov to stop squandering millions upon million of Yen to pay for useless whaling campaigns year after year, then their Gov would see the truth and hopefully it would stop BSing its own citizens and the rest of the world about "scientific research" and leave the whales [ALL OF THEM] alone!

Same goes for the Newfoundlanders [Eastern Canada] and the Arp Seal slaughter which is another total waste of taxpayer money [$30M CAN each year] and all under the false pretense that it helps local fishermen [aka angry white alcoholic SOBs] cope with their lack of income during the harsh winter months. If it so harsh, then just move to South FL and let those poor seals live their lives in peace!