The leader of a US-based anti-whaling organisation is now on an international wanted list for allegedly masterminding the group’s disruption of Japanese whale hunts in the Antarctic Ocean, Japan’s coast guard said today.
The move – done at Japan’s request – signals Tokyo’s escalating anger against the Sea Shepherd group, which it accuses of putting whalers’ lives at risk during the annual Antarctic hunt.
The Canadian founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Paul Watson, 59, has been on the Interpol list since Wednesday, Coast Guard spokesman Shinichiro Tanaka said. He said Watson’s whereabouts is unknown.
Sea Shepherd officials were not immediately available for comment.