Watson vows to not give Japan a break

BERLIN — Paul Watson, the fugitive founder of environmental group Sea Shepherd, vowed Tuesday to continue disrupting Japan’s whaling fleet when it heads for the southern oceans this winter, despite authorities in at least three countries seeking his arrest.

The 61-year-old Canadian was detained in Germany in May on a Costa Rican extradition warrant that accused him of endangering the crew of a fishing vessel in 2002.

About 10 days ago Watson skipped bail after learning that Japan, too, was seeking his extradition from Germany.

“I can serve my clients better at sea than in a Japanese prison cell and I intend to do just that,” he said in a statement issued by his U.S.-based group, which didn’t disclose his current location. “In December, our ships will sail forth for the ninth campaign to oppose the outlaw Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.”

The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is a vast conservation area around Antarctica in which commercial whaling operations are banned.

Watson said he believed the Japanese warrant related to the collision of a Japanese whaling support ship and a Sea Shepherd boat in January 2010. Watson said he expects Japanese authorities “to exploit all avenues to find a way to stop me.”

“I have, however, eluded them once again and I will continue to try and keep a step ahead of them, no matter what risks and costs have to be made.”