Sea Shepherd’s Paul Watson speaks on skipping bail: ‘I eluded them once again’

A week after fleeing house arrest in Frankfurt, eco-saboteur Paul Watson released a letter Monday claiming charges against him were influenced by the shark and whale poaching industries he has interfered with for decades.

The 61-year-old Canadian is wanted by both Costa Rica and Japan for endangering fishing vessels, and until recently was on bail after an arrest two months ago by German authorities acting on a Costa Rican warrant.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Societ/AFP/Getty Images

The Sea Shepherd speedboat "Gojira" (later renamed Brigitte Bardot) as it is launched in Fremantle, Perth in Western Australia.

In the letter, Mr. Watson said he decided to skip bail after learning Japanese authorities had also requested his extradition and were expected to receive approval.

“I know the whale killing poachers of Japan will continue to exploit all avenues to find a way to stop me. I have, however, eluded them once again,” wrote the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society from a “place on this planet where I feel comfortable, a safe place far away from the scheming nations who have turned a blind eye to the exploitation of our oceans.”

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Monday Mr. Watson’s native Canada would not be such a comfortable place.

“Watson and the radical activist group known as the Sea Shepherd Society have consistently shown a willingness to engage in reckless behaviour and have shown no regard for the law. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of this individual should contact INTERPOL immediately,” Mr. Toews said in a statement.

The Costa Rican warrant for Mr. Watson’s arrest is based on a 2002 allegation that the captain and his crew rammed and briefly apprehended a local fishing vessel. Mr. Watson says he was working with neighbouring Guatemalan authorities to prevent shark finning.

Sea Shepherd officials said they continue to be unaware of Mr. Watson’s whereabouts and only received the letter in an email from the captain’s lawyer. The organization distributed Mr. Watson’s lengthy explanation of his actions to supporters and media Monday.

The veteran activist pledged to continue his efforts to sabotage poaching of marine life, announcing a new campaign in Japan, which is set to launch in December.

“I can serve my clients better at sea than in a Japanese jail cell and I intend to do just that.” National Post

jedmiston@nationalpost.com