U.S.-Canadian Anti-whaling Activist Detained In Greenland After Japan's Arrest Warrant

Whale fishing boat — Image for representation purposes only

Paul Watson, a well-known anti-whaling environmentalist, has been detained by Greenland police after Japan issued an international arrest warrant against him.

Watson, 73, is a Canadian-American citizen and the former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, renowned for its direct action techniques against whaling ships.

These activities have received support from A-list celebrities and have been featured in the reality TV series “Whale Wars.”

Watson was arrested when he arrived in Nuuk on the ship John Paul Dejoria.

Greenland’s law enforcement agency reported that the arrest was in response to an international warrant filed by Japanese authorities.

Watson appeared before a district court that decided to detain him until August 15, 2024, to allow the Danish Ministry of Justice to investigate his case and the possibility of extradition to Japan.

The Captain Paul Watson Foundation expressed concern over the politically driven nature of the extradition request.

The foundation’s director, Locky MacLean, urged the Danish authorities to release Watson and dismiss Japan’s request.

Watson’s organization stated that the extradition request is likely related to its previous initiatives against Japanese whaling operations.

Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019, modernizing its fleet and expanding its catch list, citing whaling as a part of its cultural legacy.

Conservationists have strongly condemned the action, fearing for the future of large ocean creatures.

Image Credits: Captain Paul Watson Foundation/FB

These concerns revolve around Japan’s newly built factory whaling ship, the Kangei Maru, which processes and stores whale meat.

The Kangei Maru’s operations have raised concerns among activists that Japan is planning to expand its whaling activities far beyond its own coasts even though Japan left the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 2019 and currently focuses on commercial coastal whaling.

Watson has had previous encounters with legal authorities. He was held in Germany in 2012 on a Costa Rican extradition warrant, and later learned that he was also wanted by Japan.

He subsequently skipped bail and has since resided in various countries, including France and the United States.

Watson’s present imprisonment is the most recent in his long-running campaign against whaling.

The Greenland police have stated that the decision on his extradition lies with Denmark’s justice minister.

Given that Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Denmark, it is unclear whether Watson will be handed up to Japanese police.

If extradited and convicted in Japan, Watson may face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Neither the Japan Coast Guard nor the Foreign Ministry, which issued the warrant, have confirmed the ongoing negotiations for Watson’s extradition.

However, the Japanese Coast Guard has stated that it is ready to assist if a handover is requested.

The Captain Paul Watson Foundation believes that the red notice associated with Watson’s anti-whaling efforts in the Antarctic region has been withdrawn, making his latest detention an unexpected one.

While Denmark’s justice ministry investigates the case, the international community keeps a careful eye on how this high-profile situation unfolds.

Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has become the main focus of this complex legal and environmental dispute, highlighting whaling’s controversial nature and the constant struggle of campaigners like Watson to combat it.

Reference: AlJazeera, Reuters

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