Toronto-born animal activist, star of the reality show Whale Wars, and founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Paul Watson is currently being detained by German officials as he faces possible extradition to Costa Rica on the basis of a 2002 maritime violation. Watson was arrested this past weekend at the Frankfurt International Airport due to the 10-year-old Costa Rican warrant, and should learn tomorrow whether or not he’ll be extradited at the country’s request.
According to a statement from Watson posted on the Sea Shepherd website, the “extradition request was in reference to a complaint from Costa Rican fishermen who I caught poaching in Guatemalan waters. The fishermen were not injured and their boat was not damaged… Interpol originally denied this extradition order and deemed it as politically motivated.”
Sea Shepherd maintains that Watson cannot possibly hope to have a fair trial in Costa Rica, where the country’s illegal shark-finning mafia could also try to do him personal harm. The environmental group is calling on the German government to dismiss the case and deny the extradition request. They have set up a donation form for the Free Paul Watson fund, which will help support the legal defence and public education. They also ask supporters to appeal directly to the German Ministry of Justice, and ask them to deny the extradition request.









