Police detained veteran environmental activist and anti-whaling campaigner Captain Paul Watson on Sunday in Greenland. Japan issued an international warrant for Watson.
The arrest took place when Watson’s ship docked in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. “The Japanese authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for Paul Watson, which is the reason why the Greenland Police were ready to arrest him on arrival in Nuuk,” the police said in a statement.
The 73-year-old Watson is the co-founder of marine conservation organizations Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd. A few years ago, he started the direct-action ocean conservation movement Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF).
He has a long history of anti-whaling activism. His efforts have been prominently featured in the reality TV series Whale Wars and have drawn support from various celebrities.
The CPWF reported that more than a dozen police officers boarded the vessel during a refueling stop. They led Watson away in handcuffs. Watson and 25 crew members were on a mission to intercept a new Japanese whaling ship in the North Pacific.
The foundation said in a statement that it believes his arrest is linked to a former Red Notice issued for Captain Watson’s previous anti-whaling interventions in the Antarctic region.
“We’re completely shocked, as the Red Notice had disappeared a few months ago. We were surprised because it could mean that it had been erased or made confidential. We understand now that Japan made it confidential to lure Paul into a false sense of security,” said Locky MacLean, ship operation’s director for CPWF.
Thousands of Whales Saved
Through his work with Sea Shepherd, Watson has played a significant role in saving thousands of whales.
Sea Shepherd’s various campaigns have been directly responsible for saving over 6,000 whales from being killed by Japanese whalers.
Operation Leviathan (2006-2007) saved hundreds of whales by disrupting Japanese whaling operations in the Antarctic. Similarly, Operation Migaloo (2007-2008) saved over 500 whales.
Operation Waltzing Matilda (2009-2010) prevented the killing of 528 whales. Operation No Compromise (2010-2011) saved 863 whales by forcing the Japanese fleet to leave the Southern Ocean early.
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