14 DAY TRIAL // Following the US Court of Appeals' deciding that Captain Paul Watson must keep his distance from Japanese whaling fleets, the head of the Sea Shepherd organization agreed to quit his position altogether and settle for being a mere “observer.”
Wishing to explain his decision, the Captain posted a statement on the organization's official website and drew attention to the fact that, despite several complaints raised by various people against both him and his fellow environmental activists, the Sea Shepherd organization never did anything to go against the law.
“For the 35 years since I founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society I have strived to act non-violently and within the boundaries of the law,” Paul Watson wrote in this statement.
“Sea Shepherd has never been a protest organization nor have we engaged in civil disobedience. We are an anti-poaching organization established to uphold international conservation law,” he went on to add.
Captain Paul Watson promises not to engage in any course of actions that could end up violating the temporary injunction granted by the United States 9th District Court to Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research, and says that he is to remain aboard the SSS Steve Irwin as an “observer.”
Now that Captain Paul Watson has decided to resign, Steve Irwin's crew is to be led by Captain Siddharth Chakravarty of India.
On the other hand, former Australian Senator Bob Brown will be the one to assume command of the Sea Shepherd organization.
“As a United States citizen, I will respect and comply with the ruling of the United States 9th District Court and will not violate the temporary injunction granted to the Institute for Cetacean Research. I will participate as an observer within the boundaries established by the 9th Circuit Court of the United States,” this environmentalist said.
For the time being, four ships, three drones and one helicopter belonging to the Sea Shepherd organization are busy tracking down Japanese whaling ships in the Antarctic, and hope to keep them from hunting any of the whales swimming in these waters.