In 2024, Canadian environmental activist Paul Watson spent much of the year in pre-trial detention in Greenland, facing extradition to Japan over his long-standing fight against illegal whaling. After more than five decades dedicated to marine conservation, he was released by Danish authorities in December.
Watson, born in Toronto in 1950, co-founded the anti-nuclear group 'Don't Make a Wave Committee' in 1969, which later evolved into Greenpeace. Disillusioned with Greenpeace's non-violent approach, he founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) in 1977, gaining notoriety for aggressive tactics against whalers.
His controversial methods, showcased in the TV series 'Whale Wars', earned him both admiration and criticism, being labeled an 'ecoterrorist' by some, including Greenpeace. Despite facing numerous legal challenges across several countries, Watson has received multiple accolades for his environmental work, including the Genesis Award in 1998 and the Amazon Peace Prize in 2007.
In 2022, Watson left SSCS to establish the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF), focusing on campaigns against illegal whaling and dolphin hunting in the North Atlantic and Pacific using 'non-violent aggressive intervention'. His mission reflects a commitment to protecting marine life, stating, 'We go where others fear to go...' emphasizing the urgency of marine conservation.