LONDON — Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson was released from a Greenland prison on Tuesday after spending five months in custody. He will not be extradited to Japan, where he is accused of obstructing a whaling vessel. Following his release, Watson expressed his eagerness to reunite with his family during the upcoming holiday season. In a video interview from Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, he shared, “I’m certainly quite relieved. This gives me an opportunity to return home to my two children before Christmas.”
Japan had sought Watson’s extradition through Denmark, under whose jurisdiction Greenland falls. However, Denmark declined the request, prompting a response from Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, who voiced disappointment over the rejection. He noted that Watson remains a wanted individual in Japan and that authorities will continue to pursue the matter based on available legal evidence.
Watson’s foundation revealed that he could face a prison sentence of up to 15 years in Japan, but the absence of an extradition treaty between Japan and Denmark played a significant role in his eventual release. On his journey back to France, where he resides, Watson mentioned that he intends to be cautious to avoid being detained again, particularly in countries where Interpol might act on the existing red notice issued against him by Japan.
Interpol confirmed that the red notice, which serves as an alert for fugitives, remains in effect, though it does not constitute an international arrest warrant. The decision to arrest individuals under a red notice is at the discretion of member countries.
Fortunately for Watson, France appears to provide a safe haven, having shown support for him throughout the ordeal. Just last week, he received honorary citizenship from the city of Paris, a gesture he acknowledged as crucial to his case. The former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is known for his direct actions against whaling, which received media attention and support from various celebrities, including a reality series titled “Whale Wars.”
The controversy surrounding Watson primarily stems from a 2010 incident involving a Japanese whaling research ship, during which he was accused of directing his crew to use explosives against the whalers. Watson has strenuously denied such claims, asserting that only “stink bombs,” which he described as harmless, were utilized in their operations.
After his arrest on July 21, when his ship docked in Nuuk, Japan urged Denmark to extradite Watson for trial. However, the Danish Justice Ministry stated that while the conditions for extradition were established, insufficient guarantees from Japan regarding time served in custody prevented the extradition from proceeding.
Since leaving Sea Shepherd in 2022, Watson has focused on his foundation’s advocacy efforts, which contend that his arrest was politically motivated. Japanese authorities counter that their request for extradition is based solely on criminal charges, independent of Watson’s anti-whaling stance.
In 2012, Watson was detained in Germany on charges from Costa Rica but evaded extradition after discovering that Japan sought him as well, alleging that he endangered whalers’ lives in Antarctica. Following this, he found refuge in various countries, including France and the U.S.
Despite these challenges, Watson is determined to continue his fight against whaling. He indicated that his organization is preparing a ship to intervene against Icelandic whalers next June and has resources ready in Australia to act against Japanese whaling operations should they resume in the Southern Ocean.
Japan maintains that whaling is integral to its dietary traditions and promotes the sustainable use of whale resources. After exiting the International Whaling Commission in 2019, Japan has resumed commercial whaling within its territorial waters. Watson, however, criticized Japan’s support for whale hunting, asserting that the practice relies heavily on government subsidies, highlighting that a significant portion of tsunami relief funds was improperly diverted to the whaling sector—calling the situation an embarrassment for the Japanese people.