Paul Watson, a prominent anti-whaling activist and founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, was arrested in Greenland on July 21, 2024. The arrest came as a surprise to Watson and his crew as they had docked in Nuuk, Greenland's capital city, for refueling. According to reports from various sources, the arrest warrant was issued by Japan and is believed to be related to Watson's past anti-whaling interventions in the Antarctic region. The Captain Paul Watson Foundation stated that more than a dozen police boarded the vessel and led Watson away in handcuffs when it stopped to refuel.
Watson, a 73-year-old Canadian American citizen, has been wanted by Japan since 2012 on charges of causing damage and injury in two incidents against a Japanese whaling ship in the Antarctic Ocean. He has lived in various countries including France and the United States to avoid extradition requests from Japan and Costa Rica. Watson was previously a leading member of Greenpeace but left due to disagreements over tactics.
Greenland is an autonomous Danish dependent territory with self-government and its own parliament. The arrest has raised concerns about the potential for extradition, as Denmark is responsible for enforcing international arrest warrants within its territory. According to reports, Watson's current ship, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was due to sail through the Northwest Passage to the North Pacific on a mission to intercept a newly built Japanese factory whaling ship.
The Sea Shepherd Foundation implores the Danish government to release Watson and not entertain Japan's politically-motivated request. They believe that Japan is planning to resume high-seas whaling in the Southern Ocean and North Pacific as early as next year, and Watson was on his way to intercept their newly built factory ship.
Watson gained support from across the world due to his decades of activism but has also faced criticism and legal issues due to his aggressive tactics. Some of that criticism has come from Greenpeace, which Watson claims he was a co-founder of despite the group denying this.
The arrest comes at a time when Japan's whaling practices have been under increased scrutiny both domestically and internationally. Japan left the International Whaling Commission in 2019 and now only conducts commercial whaling in its own waters, but activists argue that this is not sustainable or scientifically justified.
The arrest of Paul Watson highlights the ongoing tension between those who seek to protect marine life and those who prioritize economic interests. It also raises questions about the role of international cooperation and diplomacy in resolving such conflicts.
