Interpol Lifts Red Notice for Sea Shepherd Founder Paul Watson

Interpol has lifted its red notice for Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and prominent anti-whaling activist, after its Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF) deemed the notice disproportionate. The red notice, requested by Japan due to a 2010 incident where Watson was accused of damaging a whaling vessel and injuring a crew member, was deleted following Denmark's refusal to extradite Watson and other countries declining Japan's requests. Watson, who was detained in Greenland in 2024 based on Japan's warrant, was released after Denmark rejected the extradition. Japan has expressed strong disapproval of Interpol's decision, maintaining that its arrest warrant for Watson remains valid and that it will continue seeking his extradition. Despite the removal of the international red notice, Watson's freedom of movement remains limited as he could still be arrested in countries cooperating with Japan. Sea Shepherd and Watson's lawyer welcomed the decision, highlighting it as a victory against what they called a long-standing vendetta by Japanese whalers.