Iceland seizes Paul Watson Foundation’s anti-whaling ship and detains its crew
Authorities say the 21 crew members were detained after the protest vessel ignored orders and approached a whaling ship in Icelandic waters.
- Around midnight on Thursday, the Icelandic Coast Guard and Viking Squad special forces seized the Bandero, a protest vessel operated by the Paul Watson Foundation, detaining its 21 crew members after it ignored orders to stop in Icelandic waters.
- Authorities intervened after the crew of the whaling ship Hvalur 9 requested assistance on Thursday evening, reporting they felt threatened by the protest vessel. The Coast Guard subsequently moved to board the Bandero after it failed to comply with instructions to leave territorial waters.
- Earlier that day, the Paul Watson Foundation claimed the Bandero collided with Hvalur 9, forcing the whaler to abandon its hunt. However, the Coast Guard verified the vessel approached the whaler but did not confirm the foundation's collision allegation.
- After arriving in Reykjavik on Friday, the vessel came under police investigation. Icelandic national broadcaster RUV reported authorities are seeking deportation of the 21 crew members and an entry ban to Iceland.
- Iceland remains one of the few nations still practicing commercial whaling, though the hunt is increasingly contentious locally. Whale meat is now rarely eaten within the Arctic island nation as demand has dwindled significantly.
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75 Articles
An animal rights activist from Saskatchewan is among those arrested off Reykjavik, the Icelandic capital, on board a vessel operated by a group founded by whale hunter Paul Watson.
The Toronto Star
Canadian activist among those detained on anti-whaling ship in Iceland
MONTREAL - An animal-rights activist from Saskatchewan is among those detained off the coast of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, on a ship operated by a group founded by anti-whaling activist Paul Watson.
Icelandic special forces invade an anti-whaling ship of the »Sea Shepherd« founder Paul Watson and arrest the crew. The activists are to be deported and have a ban on entry.
Icelandic coast guard officers and special forces have seized a ship operated by a foundation founded by anti-whaling activist Paul Watson and detained its crew, officials in the country said on Saturday.
Iceland seizes anti-whaling ship linked to Canadian activist Paul Watson, detains crew
Watson has a history with confronting whaling vessels, and was removed from Interpol’s most-wanted list in 2025. Iceland is one of the only countries still practicing commercial whaling
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