in Marseille, a month after his release, Paul Watson assures that he will continue his fight against whale hunters

The founder of Sea Shepherd spoke with the mayor of Marseille, Benoit Payan, on Monday.

After spending five months in prison in Greenland, Paul Watson settled in Marseille, determined to continue the fight to defend the oceans and whales. The environmental activist, founder of Sea Shepherd, was received on Monday January 20 by the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan. A month after his release, Paul Watson thanks the city for its support and says he is ready to continue the fight against whale hunters around the world.

The city of Marseille had displayed his portrait large in the town hall square, while Paul Watson was imprisoned in Greenland, arrested by the Danish authorities, before taking to the sea to stop a Japanese whaling ship.

But these 149 days of detention will not have been for nothing, explains the founder of Sea Shepherd: “Being in prison was an opportunity to focus international attention on Japan’s crimes, their killing of whales in the Southern Ocean Whaling Sanctuary. That’s not my opinion, that’s my opinion. of the International Court of Justice And I would like to thank the mayor of Marseille and the people of Marseille for the incredible support I received while I was in prison.

This support annoys the Japanese, smiles Paul Watson. By arresting him, Denmark had responded to an Interpol red notice dating from 2012, following an arrest warrant issued by Japan: “We will confront Interpol, politically and legally… Not just for me but for hundreds of other people. Countries are using Interpol as a political weapon against whistleblowers and activists.” Paul Watson is not saying if he will go back to sea right away. He says his priority is to prevent Japan from returning to the Southern Ocean whaling sanctuary, but also Iceland from killing whales this summer or to stop the illegal slaughter of pilot dolphins in the Danish archipelago of the Faroe Islands.