Key Facts
• February 28, 2025: Paul Watson photographed in Nice, France.
• July 2024: Watson detained in Nuuk, Greenland, based on Japan’s 2012 request.
• December 2024: Denmark rejects Japan’s extradition request and releases Watson.
• July 22, 2025: Interpol officially removes Watson’s Red Notice.
• Watson claims Japan pursued him for 14 years over whaling-related incidents.
• 2010: Allegations include assault and property damage against Japanese whaling crew.
• Interpol’s decision based on procedural rules, not the 2010 incident’s merits.
• Independent body CCF cited political motives and disproportionate measures.
• Watson holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States.
• Sea Shepherd France calls the decision a “moral and symbolic victory.”
• Japan’s arrest warrant remains valid, allowing potential enforcement by other nations.
Summary
Paul Watson, founder of the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, has been released from Interpol’s Red Notice after 14 years of pursuit by Japan. The Red Notice, issued in 2012 at Japan’s request, was linked to a 2010 incident involving alleged assault and property damage against Japanese whaling crew members. Watson, known for his aggressive tactics at sea, claimed the charges were politically motivated. Interpol’s independent body, the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF), determined the notice did not meet its standards, citing political elements and disproportionate measures. Despite the removal, Japan’s arrest warrant remains active, leaving Watson’s freedom of movement restricted. Sea Shepherd France hailed the decision as a symbolic victory, though Watson’s legal challenges persist.
