In a remote Greenlandic prison, far from the icy waters where he once confronted Japanese whalers, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Paul Watson remains unwaveringly committed to his life’s mission. The 74-year-old activist, now facing potential extradition to Japan and a lengthy prison sentence, defiantly declares, “If I’m sent to Japan, I’m not coming home.”
Watson’s arrest in July, while refueling his ship in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, sent shockwaves through the environmental activist community. The incident was prompted by an Interpol red notice issued by Japan, which accuses Watson of conspiracy to trespass, disrupt business, and cause damage to a whaling vessel in 2010. The veteran campaigner denies playing a commanding role in the alleged offenses.
‘An Interesting Prison’: Life in Greenlandic Detention
Housed in Anstalten, a state-of-the-art facility opened in 2021, Watson finds himself in an “interesting prison.” Inmates here enjoy private rooms, communal cooking facilities, and even the right to go hunting with loaded weapons. Yet for a man accustomed to roaming the world’s oceans, confinement is a challenge, especially when it separates him from his young children.
Watson admits that his activism has often kept him away from family. “I know what it’s like,” he reflects, recalling his own difficult childhood. Now, with just 10 minutes of video call time per week, he puts on a brave face for his sons, aged three and eight. “I don’t feel upset, so they don’t feel upset,” he explains, masking his own emotional turmoil.
A Life Dedicated to Animal Welfare
Watson’s passion for animal protection began early. As a child, he joined the Kindness Club, an animal welfare group, to cope with his father’s abuse. By his teens, he had run away to sea, embarking on a journey that would lead him to co-found Greenpeace and later establish Sea Shepherd.
I ran away from home when I was 14, 15, 16, and finally, permanently, I ran off to sea. I joined the Norwegian Merchant Marine.
Paul Watson
The Controversial Crusader
Watson’s uncompromising tactics have often placed him at odds with the law and even fellow environmentalists. He left Greenpeace due to disagreements over his more aggressive approach, which has included ramming and scuttling whaling boats. While his methods have drawn criticism, Watson maintains that his actions have never harmed anyone.
You can’t be frustrated over something you can’t control. You know, what’s the point? And I’ve never been angry at anything. What’s the point of being angry?
Paul Watson
Celebrity Support and Political Pressure
Watson’s plight has attracted high-profile supporters, including actors Brigitte Bardot and Pierce Brosnan, filmmaker James Cameron, and businessman Richard Branson. Brazilian President Lula da Silva has written to Watson in jail, while French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly called for his release. Despite this pressure, Watson remains incarcerated, his fate uncertain.
Japan’s ‘Revenge’ and the Fight Ahead
Watson believes his arrest is “revenge” for his successful campaigns against Japanese whaling, documented in the popular TV series “Whale Wars.” If extradited and convicted, he could face up to 15 years in a Japanese prison – a prospect he fears could be a death sentence.
As he awaits his fate, Watson remains focused on his cause, penning a children’s book entitled “Spaceship Earth” to pass the time. His calm demeanor belies the gravity of his situation, but for a man who has spent a lifetime fighting for marine life, giving up is not an option. The saga of Paul Watson, the controversial captain, is far from over.
