Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson – who found fame on the television show Whale Wars – has been freed from custody in Greenland and will not face extradition to Japan.
Mr Watson, a Canadian-American citizen, had been held in Greenland since his arrest earlier this year under a Japanese warrant.
The 74-year-old former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was wanted by the country’s coastguard over an encounter with a Japanese whaling research ship in 2010.
He was accused of obstructing the crew’s official duties by ordering the captain of his ship to throw explosives at the whaling ship.
Paul Watson is released from prison in Nuuk, Greenland. Pic: Alataq Moeller/Ritzau Scanpix via AP
Mr Watson’s new group, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, said he would have faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison in Japan if he had been extradited from Greenland – an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark.
While Denmark does not have an extradition treaty with Japan, the Danish Justice Ministry said in a statement conditions for his extradition had been met.
However, it said it had not received adequate guarantees from Japanese authorities that the time Mr Watson had already served in custody would be counted against any sentence he would receive in Japan.
Mr Watson said in a video posted on his foundation’s social media page following his release: “After five months it’s good to be out and… good to see that they are not going to send me to Japan, and so have a go-home for Christmas.
“The only hard part was that my two little boys… I haven’t seen them since June.”
Activist Paul Watson is arrested in Greenland
Mr Watson founded the anti-whaling Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 1977 after being ousted from the board of Greenpeace for disagreements over his calls for direct action.
His high seas confrontations with Japanese whaling vessels later featured in the reality television series Whale Wars.
Captain Paul Watson was the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Pic: AP
Japan, which allows commercial whaling in its seas, says whale meat is part of its food culture and it supports the sustainable use of the animals.
While he received support from some celebrities for his actions, others, such as the Japanese government, accused Mr Watson’s group of eco-terrorism.
People demonstrate to support Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson after his arrest in Greenland. Pic: AP
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Mr Watson was sought by the Japanese authorities through an Interpol red notice.
He was arrested on 21 July when his ship docked in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
His lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, said: “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.
“I guess he will have some lunch or breakfast as a free man and then will find a way to get back home.”
Mr Watson left Sea Shepherd in 2022 to set up his foundation, which alleged at the time of his arrest that the action was politically motivated and called for his release.
