“I didn’t think I would be detained this long,” says the whale activist

But “my arrest gave the opportunity to show the extent to which Japan had illegal activities,” rejoices the founder of Sea Shepherd.

“I didn't think I would be detained this long, says Paul Watson on Sunday December 22 on France Inter. The activist was released on Tuesday December 17 after four months spent in detention in Greenland, which was examining an extradition request made by Japan.

“All the evidence was in my favor, we documented everything,” continues Paul Watson who celebrated his release from prison on Saturday in Paris with hundreds of supporters. “My arrest provided the opportunity to show the extent to which Japan had illegal activities,” welcomes the environmental activist. Japan, Norway and Iceland are the last countries to practice whaling, although it has been regulated since 1986.

Paul Watson looks back on the origins of his fight. “In June 1975, we had this idea of ​​saving whales by putting our bodies between the harpoons and the whales themselves. The harpoon was fired above our heads,” recounts the founder of the NGO Sea Shepherd, who saw “his own reflection in the whale's eyes”. “She understood what we were going to do”he adds.

“Our methods are effective”, Paul Watson justifies himself. “We saved 6,500 whales in the southern oceans and I closed down every illegal whaling operation in the world”replies Paul Watson “after 10 years of discussions which led to nothing”.