TRINITONIAN OCTOBER DIGITAL

FEATURE ARTICLE
That Moment
It was 1975, and Greenpeace ships had been deployed
to intervene in the activities of a Soviet whaling fleet.
Greenpeace was attempting to block the whalers from
their targets and Watson was in the thick of the action.
Injured and dying whales littered the sea. Suffice it to
say, Watson crossed paths with a badly injured and very
frightened whale, and it looked directly at him. What
he saw in the gentle giant’s eyes was the fear of a selfaware,
intelligent and helpless animal.
In that moment, eye-to-eye, Watson shared a wordless
conversation with a creature that knew precisely
what was happening to it. A creature that was afraid
and one that was pleading for help. It was then that
Watson decided that he would no longer let human
procedures and legalities prevent him from taking
action against those who would harm the sea and its
creatures. Especially whales, for which he has a deep
and committed love.
Sea Shepherd
He’s also wanted by the Costa Rican government where
he is accused of intervening to stop a Costa Rican
shipping vessel, the Varadero I, that was illegally finning
sharks in Guatemalan waters in 2002.
Despite his enemies, Watson has friends. In the past,
he’s been protected by the Netherlands and Germany.
The USA also refused to extradite him and in fact
supported him with necessary travel documentation.
Canada, Watson’s own country, was once nonsupportive
under the old government but since Justin
Trudeau became president, Watson has received
all the support and protection he needs. And most
recently, Watson was given asylum in France for two
years, as he ducked and dived capture by the Japanese
government.
Still today, the Japanese claim that their activities in
International waters are for internationally accepted
scientific research, whereas Watson maintains that this
is a cheap front for wholesale commercial slaughter.
Love him or hate him, Watson is unlikely to give up his
fight anytime soon, unless he’s captured, or worse, by
his enemies on the high seas.
We can only hope that Captain Watson will continue his
fight. He has more passion, drive and fearless sense of
justice than all the people of some towns. Perhaps he is
proof that one man can change the world after all.
For more on Captain Watson and the Sea Shepherd
Conservation Society, visit www.seashepherd.com
Two years later, he was out of Greenpeace and had
founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society with
supporters loyal to him. Today, they operate three
vessels: the MY Steve Irwin, the Bridget Bardot and
the Bob Barker. Most of their activities take place in
international waters and the crews are always ready,
willing and able to do whatever they can to stop the
slaughter of marine creatures, even if it means sinking
ships!
Terrorist
In 1997, Watson was convicted in absentia by the
Norwegian government on charges of attempting to
sink the Norwegian whaling fleet.
The Japanese, have taken a tougher stance on Watson
and his affiliates. There, he’s listed as a terrorist and
wanted for trial on charges that will almost certainly
result in serious jail time if he’s ever caught.
22 | The Trinitonian