Captain Paul Watson
America’s most notorious and controversial ship captain is now an international fugitive.
On Wednesday, INTERPOL formally issued a Red Notice for Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (and Whale Wars fame) after the notorious sea captain skipped bail in Germany as he faced extradition to Costa Rica.
Although not technically an arrest warrant (as Interpol does not have the authority to issue arrest warrants), a Red Notice is the highest level of alert INTERPOL can issue to its 190 member nations. This notice puts the onus on the specific country on whether or not to detain Watson.
In May, Paul Watson was arrested in Germany on grounds of a 10-year old Costa Rican arrest warrant that sought his extradition back to the Central American country to face charges equivalent to attempted murder. Germany eventually granted Watson bail, which he posted, however Watson fled the country on July 22nd after 70 days under house arrest.
“Watson’s failure to satisfy the bail conditions set by the German court,” INTERPOL says in its notice, “and the additional information provided by Costa Rica concerning the underlying charges, it was concluded that a Red Notice could be issued in compliance with INTERPOL’s Constitution and rules.”
In its notice, INTERPOL specifies the charges against Watson as ‘causing a danger of drowning or of an air disaster’ in connection to an alleged water cannon incident that took place in April 2002 while filming Sharkwater, a documentary film meant to expose the ugly shark-hunting/finning industry.
The specific incident in question took place in Guatemalan waters, when Sea Shepherd encountered an illegal shark-finning operation run by the Costa Rican vessel, the Varadero. On order of Guatemalan authorities, Sea Shepherd instructed the crew of the Varadero to cease their shark-finning activities and head back to port to be prosecuted. While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew. To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where the crew continued their operations.
On their website, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society calls the charges against Watson “bogus” and “politically motivated”.
“The elevation of the attack against our organization and our founder, Captain Watson, is not unexpected,” said Susan Hartland, Administrative Director of Sea Shepherd. “Costa Rica has been acting as a puppet for Japan throughout this case and we expect that to continue,” she said. “Japan is driving this effort in retaliation for our successful campaigns to stop them from whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. We’ve cost them millions of dollars and exposed their shame to the world because of their refusal to stop the slaughter of whales in an established sanctuary under the lie and loophole of ‘research.’”
Still, Paul Watson’s location, and future, remain unknown.
Paul Watson is not a licensed mariner in any county. He is however, an Eco Terrorist.
You're jealous of his skills!
It takes no skill to ram a boat. what a pos.
CB: He's a terrorist, and WANTED in several countries. And he's no more a Captain that Roy M. is was a captain.
I thought if you put a fancy hat on you were a captain? You know, like the ones Gilligan wore?
if i remember correctly…the minnow was CAPTAINED by an american skipper…LMAO…no surprise there…lol
if i remember correctly…the minnow was CAPTAINED by an american skipper…LMAO…no surprise there…lol
He's saving whales! And dolphins! And starfish! He's a true hero!
I want to be a bad guy on your watch.
afraid not Richard..I find american mariners usually..( no matter the paper they hold )..aren’t qualified to carry the briefcase of most other nations seafarers…in other words..i don’t have them on my watch, period..!!!
So why hasn't the FBI confiscated his assets in the US? Last time I looked, they frowned on terrorists…must be something more to the story.
But he is our Eco terrorist. Bless him!
Well, as you (fisherman) said "It takes no skill to ram a boat" and I'm going to continue – As well as it takes no skill to kill whales. You could talk about plundering oceans, could't you? ;)
Calling him a captain is an insult to those of us who have worked years to achieve the grade of master/captain who follow the rules and regulations set forth for professional mariners to act responsibly and respectfully in the marine environment. Please do not refer to him as a captain as he is not such and refer to him for what he is, a cowardly terrorist.
another whining backpatting american…no surprise here
and in case you americans have forgotten ( and laughabley call yourselves professionals )…i believe another famous american skipper notabley master/captain Hazelwood…another great skipper…LMAO…oh wait..didn’t he run aground out of the MARKED laneway in another famous american ship…what was that one called…OH YAH…EXXON VALDEZ…HMMM…PROFESSIONALS AND FAMOUS…IN YOUR OWN MINDS..!!!!
Queen of the North…..what do you have to say about that?
Capt. Hazelwood didn’t put the ship on the Bligh Reef. His third mate did and in doing so violated his orders to change course and re-enter the lane for safe passage. Hazelwood’s fatal error was trusting the junior officer who had the required trips but had not been licensed for pilotage.
Greg – Paul Watson is Canadian, not American. I’d love to know why exactly you got the idea that he was American (Serious inquiry – I’m writing a dissertation that is going to involve Whale Wars)
First let's cut the crap. I worked hard to get my Unlimited Master license and be called Captain. Paul Watson is neither, his on,y counterpart is Captain Kangaroo.
more american drivel…lol
@ William H. Dowd
Please take back your insult of Captain Kangaroo. There is no reason to besmirch his name by including it in a sentence with the international felon, terrorist, and fraud Paul Watson. The United States Government should seize all of Sea Shepard's assets at Friday Harbor, WA.
I agree with the comments of all my fellow licensed professional Master mariners. This guy is an Ego Maniacal Fraud, He couldn’t be Captain of the HMS Pinafore, and he and his cohorts belong in jail for International Maritime Terrorism…
you mean to say Bill you agree with your american counterparts( and professionals……lol…like i’ve said before…you guys are legends in your own minds…)…I went to sea because i love the oceans…not because of what I could RAPE out of her…it sickens me that you fools would..instead of trying to keep her alive and well…stand behind those that would happily wipe out all life in the water…grow some balls…it’s people like you and the other ameritarders…that stand by and let it happen who should be in jail right along side your political rapists..!!!
Seems to be the normal little soft on responses from Americans here… I'm cool, so you cant be… Seriously…. pull your heads out of your ar*es….. He is Capt Crunch to all illegal or immoral fishing operations…. I welcome him in NZ waters, but we don't welcome whalers, ocean rapists or apologists such as yourselves….. and Mr Sea Pro, cowardly terrorists blowup houses with civilians in them much like your military does each each day…. Driving ones ship into the side of a japanese whaler in the Southern Ocean in broad daylight hardly seems to be cowardly…. so go suck a gas leak dip brain.
well said Greg…!!!…have to agree with you 100%…amazing how americans break thier own arm off to pat themselves on the back…absolutely laughable…and I am a licenced marine engineer to shut down the whiners out there who brag themselves up for having a Ticket…grow the f**k up and realize if we kill the ocean and it's life…we take our own.!!!
Seriously gCaptain? I think your readers would elect Captain Richard Phillips as America’s favorite captain over “Captain” Paul Watson unanimously. This is a great website for cadets to stay current in the industry but with opening sentences like that, it makes me wonder if you guys have any idea what you’re talking about
@ richard rodriguez…at least he sticks up for what he believes in..and not an idiot american with his head stuck up his ass…want to see terrorists look openly at your own country..
Hey buddy, how are you? You still up north?
yes i am Barb…how are you doing…down in god's country….;-)….
@Greg…yes Paul Watson is a Canadian. On terrorists..yes we have them, and so do you along with every far right & far left wing group who espouses their "truth."
We'll make sure that Greg gets a secondary at the Blaine crossings next time he visits the states. After all, he is voicing support for a bail jumping terrorist.
maybe you should just send a drone and take care of everybody who disagree's with you…after all I must be a "word terrorist" by now….lol
Yah Stuart…maybe you should just send a drone to take care of business like a good ol boy…I mean everyone who has a different opinion than an american is a terrorist…aren't they…I'm sure I must be on the " word terrorist " list by now….maybe a trip to guantonamo would set me straight…it's attitudes and opinion's ..like your's… that makes you guy's one of the most dispised people around…maybe you should remember some words that don't amount to a hill of bean's in your country anymore………" innocent until proven guilty "
I notice unanamiously that the americans are the only ones calling Paul a terrorist while patting themselves on the back for having a ticket, while the rest of the reader’s from other countries are laughing openly at them…and low and behold the rest of us hold a ticket too but don’t have to whine about how hard we had to work to get it…and also have a respect for other life and other species which seems to be sadly missing from the americans with they’re absolutely profound arrogance and sense of entitlement…!!!
When he is in danger he runs, when the crew is in danger he films. He is not a captain or a skilled mariner. I vote for eco terrorist, sorry but those are the facts.
Watson knows that bureaucraticism isn't solution. On the other hand, it isn't very effective solution… But did you answer yourself a question – If he stops, who will fight against ocean plundering?
Looks to me that huamnkind, after thousands years of evolution, still isn't mature and have to reach the absolute bottom to stand up and start again.
Iam not arguing against the work the green peace movement or Mr Watson perform as activists, but I do question his right to the title Sea-Captain or Master-Mariner and I don’t understand why he is allowed to act in the capacity as officer in charge of of an ocean going vessel of that size and tonnage. IMO and Maritime Port State Authorities in the countries and ports the Sea-Shepherd is visiting in must be failing in ensuring that his certifications and licences as a Captain is valid and up to scratch and in accordance with current International Conventions of Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers.
as perhaps people are unaware out there…of the actuall STCW rules…if your the OWNER of a vessel…no matter the size…and you are not transporting people or cargo in a commercial capacity…you need not meet they’re stringent rules…but never the less…how the hell would any of you know that he’s not a licenced mariner…because if you have access to that information…which is covered by privacy legislation…and you need only to provide it to your employer or the governing bodies when they are inspecting your vessel…in a commercial setting…!!!on a privately owned vessel …no such actions occur…and i defy any of you…to produce proof that Mr Watson is not a very capable mariner…and just saying he’s irresponsible because he rams vessels ..THAT ARE ILLEGALLY DOING AS THEY PLEASE IN INTERNATIONAL SANCTUARY’S…DOES NOT CUT IT…HE’S DOING WHAT THE LIMP D**K NATIONS WON’T…SUCK IT UP PRINCESSES…GO HOME AND PUT ON YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES..AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER…OR SHUT THE HELL UP AND LET THOSE WHO CAN…DO…!!!!!
Actually, this POS of a human being isn’t an American at all. He is canadian! Beyone that, he is a pirate and should be treated as such!
Actually, he is a canadian and proud of it, as a lot of us are.!!!!!….A pirate HAHAHA …WOW..ignorance runs deep out there…a pirate is a thief and plunderer..in case you didn’t know…hmmmm…me thinks we have another american here…he’s an anti-pirate if anything and trying to stop political piracy.. the kind the Japanese and Americans are world famous for..!!!…(example)( let’s put out in the media that we’re against whaling and illegal fishing …while hiring poor nations to do they’re dirty work… they need the money…your scams and deciet are well known and poorly recieved …your days as leaders of the world are OVER…move aside for those who actually speak and do the right thing…not pretend to do such…!!!!
I’d like to see Discovery Channel attempt another season of Whale Wars with this crook at the center. Face the music fatboy – dont do the crime if you cant do the time!
HE’S PROBABLY TWICE THE MAN YOU’LL EVER BE SEAN….I SMELL AN AMERITARDER…LMAO
Hm, maybe I’m overstepping my bounds but I seem to recall that earlier this week one of your fine Canadian “Navy” ships got itself sideways and damn near grounded in the Welland Canal due to outstanding seamanship on the part of one of your countrymen. How are those 4th-rate hand-me-down Subs from England treating you guys? Still barely functional and nearly killing their crews?
YOU MEAN SOMETHING LIKE YOUR AMERICAN NAVY VESSEL THREATING A LIGHTHOUSE TO ADJUST COURSE OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES..LMAO…AND THAT VESSEL IN QUESTION IN THE WELLAND SUFFERED MECHANICAL FAILURE AND WAS NOT DUE TO SEAMANSHIP…AND THE SUBS..WELL IT TAKES A CANADIAN ENGINEER TO SOLVE THE WORST OF PROBLEMS..EVEN THE KIND BROUGHT ON BY LOUSY POLITICAL INTERFERENCE BY SOME IDIOT WHO DOESN’T KNOW WHICH END OF A SHIP OR SUB GOES UP OR DOWN…MORE POLITICAL AND BEANCOUNTER INTERFERENCE..WHICH IS WHY I GOT OUT OF THE ENGINEERING END…I DIDN’T SPEND 20 YEARS TO GAIN MY INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TICKET TO HAVE SOME POLITICAL CRONY TAKE MY DECISION MAKING POWER AWAY TO SUIT THEY’RE IDEA OF HOW THINGS SHOULD GO…!!!!….DOESN’T MEAN THAT I HAVE TO STOP CARING OR LISTENING TO IGNORAMOUSES SPOUT THIER DRIVEL…COME ON GUYS..DUE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND KNOW THE FACTS…BEFORE YOU SPOUT OFF…
WOW!!! You sound like an megalomaniac idiot….just saying….
Oh yeah….and a REAL seaman who loves the sea doesn’t tuck tail and run when the going gets tough….they stick it out and ride the waves, be they political or other types of waves…..
This man is a HERO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU ANDERS…WHEN OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN….LOOK BACK ON THIS…DO YOU WANT TO BE LOOKED ON AND REMEMBERED AS THE PROBLEM..OR THE SOLUTION…THINK LONG AND HARD ON THAT ONE GENTLEMAN…!!!!…I PREFER TO BE REMEMBERED AS PART OF THE SOLUTION..!!!!
I pray that you don’t have offspring…..that’s a scary thought to know that there are more ignorant people like you running around…
Yeah, that Lighthouse incident never happened, let alone with the Lincoln. Thats an old-timers joke that goes back to at least the 30′s, if it ever happened. How’s about you check your sources and turn off the CAPS LOCK too pal? Or is that just key frozen down by the chill of your ice-fishing hut?
Hmm.. I can't see how whales will ever make it, when humans can't even get along with their own species. Trying to fight opinions with bigotry… yeah, the whales are screwed.
Greg Lalonde – you sound like an inbred mofo!!! You state that you got your ticket cause you love the sea? According to you and your ‘drivel’ you make it sound like you are the only one who loves the sea…..you sound more like your brain, or rather what’s left of it, is water logged. I know lots of people who work at sea because that is what they love doing. I pray to God that you don’t have children!! Stupid people such as yourself shouldn’t breed and you need a little chlorine in your gene pool….or a lot – who knows?
Paul Watson routinely puts his vessel and crew in jeopardy. He is a hazard to real mariners and belongs behind bars.
The people on GCaptain expressing vitriol about America would do well to consider without it's sacrifice in treasure and lives they might well be speaking Japanese or German today.
I met one of Paul Watson's former officers, and this individual had really nothing at all positive to say about him. He was needlessly reckless in the manner which he operated his vessel. Not necessarily with regard to the fact he actually collided with other ships at sea, but just in general. On one particular occasion, he collided with another ship on purpose without even notifying his crew who were sleeping up in the foc'sle, much less w/o sounding the collision alarm. I can certainly appreciate wanting to save the whales and all, but seriously, having a cavalier attitude at sea will end up killing someone. There's just no place for it.
Additionally, the guy has committed piracy on numerous occasions. His emotions control his actions. No leader, manager, captain, etc., should be ruled by their sentiments
This guy is not a mariner. He is a terrorist.
Total nut job of course but I love whale wars!
What I have seen on Whale Wars is appalling behaviour from both the NGO and the Japanese both show a total disregard of the International Maritime Regulations, poor seamanship and bad general behaviour. The community expects more from the professional mariner. I find it hard to believe that any of them could a licensed master as both sides have placed their vessels and crew in grave and imminent danger, both sides have failed to avoid collisions at sea, both should be prosecuted before someone is injured or killed.
I don’t believe that dressing up slaughter to harvest meat as scientific research is legal but neither is breaking the IMO regs. We should not be killing the animal with the largest brain on the plant for a tasty snack that we don’t have to eat especially when it is endangered. As for the culture I come from an Australian Aboriginal background my people have eaten whale for a millennium and Australia has had a history of whaling going back to the first fleet but has stopped now as there is no need to whale so why continue. Our culture demands that we only take what is needed so there will always be more. Both sides need to do the right thing.
Queen of the North…..need I say more?
Two different arguments here:
– Watson is a ‘bad captain’. I agree, he puts his charges … mostly youngsters without any idea what they are involved with … into harm’s way. He’s routinely in Antarctic waters where a mishap is 3-5 days from rescue.
– Watson is little different from Greenpeace. Because governments refuse to monitor and confront rogues who cheat, amateurs like Watson are left fill the vacuum.
Real problem is commercial interests running amok. Eating a whale is little different from eating the family dog, it’s simply not justifiable, neither is the ‘fake’ scientific research whaling industry that stands behind it. Similarly unjustifiable is dumping radioactive- or toxic wastes into the ocean, vacuum trawls, long-lines and shark-finning.
Indeed, sea captains make money doing these sorts of things and others besides but money does not justify, it only pays. Crack down on one captain, get ready to crack down on all of them.
Jay Gould could hire half the working class to kill the other half, does the money make the killing right? If there is more to captaincy than not running into anything: there must be a code of ethics that respects the sea and its creatures rather than plunders it.
Maybe that is what’s needed: an international professional code of ethics applicable to behavior in non-national and international waters: breaches would mean loss of license, uninsurable, unwelcome in any port.
I am astounded about the comments made here about Mr. Watson being a “hero” and what not, he probably does what he thinks is right. My objections is about his seaman-ship, no properly certified and trained Master, Skipper or Sea-Captain would ever put his or an other Masters crew or vessel at risk in the manner Mr. Watson have in the past. As far as his qualifications as a Master concerns thus can be put to scrutiny by any Port State Authority in any port notwithstanding if the vessel is commercial or privately operated if over a certain length or tonnage so please Greg Lalonde do not refer to the STWS rules,as you are obviously not aware of IMO”s powers regarding this subject.
Leave Capt. Paul Watson alone! He is doing good work! He has a passion and follows his heart. Most people have an opinion or something negative to say yet never do anything but complain! Paul Watson’s doing it! So lay off!