Police arrested environmental activist Captain Paul Watson on his ship Sunday in the town of Nuuk, Greenland. Watson, known for his advocacy against commercial whaling, was reportedly on a mission to traverse the Northwest Passage. This series of arctic waterways connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, and Watson’s goal was to intercept the newly-built Japanese vessel, “Kangei Maru”. The ship is viewed by some as “the most dangerous whaling ship in the world.” According to the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, the crew had stopped to refuel in Nuuk when Danish federal police boarded their vessel.
The Captain Paul Watson Foundation indicated that Watson’s arrest was linked to an Interpol Red Notice, an international arrest warrant, concerning his previous anti-whaling activities in the Antarctic. The arrest was unexpected for Watson and his organization, who believed the Red Notice had been rescinded. The foundation later clarified the arrest pertained to Watson’s actions during anti-whaling operations in the Faroe Islands.
Watson and his volunteer crew are known for employing direct action tactics to disrupt whaling activities. Watson asserts that these actions enforce Japan’s commitments under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. However, Japan accuses Watson’s team of engaging in dangerous piracy. This contention has legal precedents; notably, in 2013, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Watson’s former organization, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, could be considered modern-day pirates. This ruling facilitated legal action by Japanese whalers against the group, as detailed in the court’s opinion.
Following his arrest, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation announced that Watson was transported to Denmark. He now faces potential extradition to Japan. To read more about this incident, visit JURIST – News.