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Paul Watson, a Canadian-American environmentalist and founder of Sea Shepherd, has been arrested in Greenland under an international warrant issued by Japan. Watson, who co-founded Greenpeace, was detained upon his arrival in Nuuk aboard the vessel John Paul DeJoria. He will face a district court where authorities will request his detention pending a decision on his potential extradition to Japan.

Watson’s arrest occurred during a mission targeting Japan’s newly constructed factory whaling ship, the Kangei Maru, which is operating in the North Pacific. According to the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF), the arrest is linked to a red notice related to Watson’s previous anti-whaling activities in the Antarctic. The foundation expressed surprise at the arrest, as they had been informed that the red notice had been withdrawn.

Known for his direct-action tactics and appearances on the reality TV series Whale Wars, Watson has been a vocal opponent of whaling practices. The Kangei Maru, Japan’s first new whaling ship in over seven decades, has raised concerns due to its significant size and capacity. With a range of 13,000 kilometers and the ability to process up to 600 tons of whale meat, the vessel has prompted fears that Japan might resume whaling activities far from its shores despite previous assurances.

The ship’s owner, Kyodo Senpaku, has denied such claims, stating that their mission is focused on commercial coastal whaling and not on returning to Antarctic waters.

Please sign this petition to help stop Japan from hunting vulnerable fin whales!