The German justice system will entertain a Costa Rican request to extradite controversial Sea Shepherd conservationist and "Whale Wars" star Paul Watson, but he can post bail while the matter is considered, a Frankfurt court ruled Friday.
Bail for Watson – who faces what his organization and attorney allege are politically motivated charges over a 2002 confrontation at sea with Costa Rican fishermen – was set at 250,000 euro ($318,000), Frankfurt high regional court spokesman Ingo Nohre said.
Watson, 61, intends to post it Monday, his group said.
Watson, whose attempts to disrupt Japanese whalers at sea gained fame through Animal Planet’s “Whale Wars” TV show, was detained last weekend at the Frankfurt airport after Costa Rica issued an international request for this arrest.
Costa Rican authorities allege that Watson’s crew aboard Sea Shepherd’s Ocean Warrior ship endangered a Costa Rican fishing vessel during a confrontation off Guatemala’s coast, according to the Frankfurt court.
The court ruled Friday that Germany will consider the request, and that Costa Rica will have 90 days to make its case. The German Ministry of Justice then will decide whether to extradite Watson.
The U.S.-based Sea Shepherd, which denies the allegations, has urged supporters through its website and social media to write to German officials, arguing that the charges have less to do with law than with Watson’s anti-conservationist enemies, and that it doubts he would get a fair trial.
“As Sea Shepherd becomes increasingly more effective at protecting marine wildlife globally, the enemies of the oceans are using all of their resources to stop us,” the group said in a statement. “… (The extradition request) we believe stems from Sea Shepherd victories in curbing shark finning on the high seas.”
Thousands appear to have written to German officials so far, Sea Shepherd ship operations officer Peter Hammarstedt said, citing anecdotal evidence, including supportive e-mails the group received.
Hammarstedt said the Ocean Warrior found the Costa Rican crew killing sharks for their fins in Guatemalan waters in 2002, and it initially had permission from Guatemalan authorities to stop it and tow the vessel into port.
The Ocean Warrior used water cannons on the fishing vessel in an effort to stop it, but “there were no injuries and no physical damage to any ship,” Hammarstedt said.
The Ocean Warrior succeeded in stopping the ship, but Guatemalan authorities eventually asked Watson to release it, Hammarstedt said.
The confrontation is detailed in part of a 2007 documentary, “Sharkwater,” Hammarstedt said.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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I think it's a far better solution to fin the sharks and kill the whales for "research"...
Of course my statement was sarcasm, and I don't exactly approve of the methods he uses...he's acting criminally, himself, I agree...but what is the answer?
that guy is a terrorist who deserves to be locked up for the rest of his life in a third-world prison
A terrorist? What civilian population is he terrorizing other than Animal Planet's viewing audience? Do you even know what a terrorist is?
Costa Rican ships are illegally fishing off Guatemala. The Argument I hear is I was breaking the law and these people stopped me, please arrest them.
Yep!
@banasy-sometimes it takes a little nudge to make people think? I just cannot believe people take a fin and throw the rest away. tisk tisk.
TELL me about it...absolutely ridiculous, Mama!
Capt Watson is a Super Heroe! he is one of the few that stands up for the enviroment and the protection of endareged especies! I will continue to donate money to his cause!
Amen brother!
So will I Tony and so will countless others..let's focus on the peple who are intelligent and care about our planet!!!
"charges over a 2002 confrontation at sea with Costa Rican fishermen"
Wow, the wheels of justice turn rapidly in Costa Rica
This Costa Rican argument is akin to being a drug pusher and going to the police to report someone stealing your heroin.
stop all American tourism to Germany.
bring home the 50,000 American soldiers stationed in Germany.
kick them off the holocaust memorial board of directors.
take away all the military aid we give them.
no spare parts for stuff we sold them.
Germany receives no military aid from the US, and they produce their own weapons for the most part, which are as good or better than American weapons. What do you think would happen if the troops stationed in Germany are returned home? Please don't tell me that you believe that somehow their economy would collapse, because that is too funny for words.
He belongs in jail.
Watson deliberately endangers the lives of the fishing crews and of his own crew whenever he goes to sea. A hero, not when you with great consideration endanger the lives of others.
Because the other idiots ARE breaking the Law. He is just trying to prevent them from committing CRIMES!
he deserves to be treated like somali pirates.
end of story.
No, not really. Pull your head out.
Amen Amen Amen brotha!
the same as people who rob and murder....treated the same? ARE you kidding me???? amazing...... what have they done that is even remotely the same as the pirates??????
Paul Watson is an inspiration to us all. He deserves a medal, not a bail hearing!
Billions of people support what you are doing Paul ... keep up the fight for these beautiful creatures!
SO TRUE BROWN>>>>>SO VERY TRUE!!!
Why is this terrorist pirate not dead?
Because he is a good person with values unlike you.
Why is it enviros can break the law openly and with the aid of television and when someone pushes back under the law they are wrong? Oh that's right, they have to only observe the laws they set for themselves and want to force on others. What was I thinking.......
Looks like Newt got lost at sea and found himself defending sharks in Guatemala...