Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from prison in Greenland after five months in custody, following Denmark’s rejection of a Japanese extradition request.
Watson, 74, was detained by local authorities in Nuuk when his ship docked last July.
The warrant from Japan accused him of damages during a 2010 Antarctic encounter with a whaling ship, claiming he obstructed business operations and injured a crew member.
A prominent figure known for his opposition to whaling and his role in a reality TV show, Watson has consistently maintained his innocence.
Following his release, Watson stated that his imprisonment had effectively spotlighted “illegal” Japanese whaling practices and served as an extension of his advocacy efforts.
While conservation groups have condemned whaling, officials in Japan defend the practice as a cultural tradition.
The Danish justice ministry emphasized that it would not comply with the extradition due to the nature of the incident and its occurrence 14 years prior.
Watson’s lawyer expressed that he was “obviously relieved” and eager to reunite with his family.
The extradition decision was made in Copenhagen, as Greenland operates under Danish jurisdiction. Although no formal extradition treaty exists between Japan and Denmark, Japan sought Watson’s extradition.
Danish justice minister Peter Hummelgaard highlighted the importance of considering Watson’s time in custody when evaluating any potential sentencing in Japan, noting the uncertainty expressed by Japanese authorities regarding the matter.
Watson’s ship, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with 26 volunteers, aiming to intercept a new Japanese whaling ship when it paused in Nuuk to refuel.
In a prior court session, Watson claimed the case was motivated by “revenge for a television show that embarrassed Japan on a global scale.”
For years, Watson has remained a polarizing figure, known for his direct confrontations with whaling operations.
He previously led the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society before establishing the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, although it had continued whaling under the guise of research during a 30-year hiatus.
