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Costa Rica drops all charges against Captain Paul Watson |
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 By the
A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Criminal Appeals Court of the Second Judicial Circuit of San José ruled in favor of Captain Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, dropping all charges against him and giving closure to a 17-year legal dispute and 13-year-old international arrest warrant. “Thanks to the determination and insistence of our legal defense team, this difficulty is now in the past. I want to thank the people of Costa Rica for their solidarity, the equanimity of their current government, and especially the understanding and support of the Minister of the Environment, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Echandi. Now it is time to look ahead and resume the conservation efforts that our organization and thousands of people make every day around the world to defend the environment,” said Captain Paul Watson. Related to the future relations between of the organization and Costa Rican government, Captain Watson said, “During all of these years, my sincere desire has always been to protect, together with Costa Rican people, the beautiful natural sanctuary that is the Isla del Coco, and other endangered areas linked to the Marine Corridor of the Eastern Tropical Pacific like the Golfo Dulce and the Osa Peninsula. I hope that now, with this dismissal of these charges against me, we can make it a reality.” The legal dispute began on April 20, 2002, when the vessel Ocean Warrior, under the command of Captain Watson, was heading to Costa Rica at the invitation of their government. Sea Shepherd had been invited to sign a collaboration agreement for the protection of the world-renowned marine sanctuary, Cocos Island. The year prior, Sea Shepherd provided the Cocos Island National Park Rangers with equipment and a ship to arrest and confiscate an Ecuadorian-flagged vessel, the San José, for illegally fishing in the protected area of the island. In 2002, the Ocean Warrior ran into the Costa Rican vessel Varadero 1, whose crew, they discovered, were illegally finning sharks in Guatemalan territorial waters. According to the Sea Shepherd organization “After the Varadero 1 ignored several requests to cease the continuation of this practice, Captain Watson received authorization from the Guatemalan naval authorities to escort the vessel to the nearest port for arrest. Following this incident, the crew of the Varadero 1 filed several baseless accusations against Captain Watson.” |
 Sea Shepherd Conservation Society courtesy photo Sea Shepherd's representatives gave
the news about the ruled in favor of Captain
Paul Watson.
This situation created a battle in Costa Rica for the legal action taken against the environmental activists. The entire incident was filmed and featured in the film Sharkwater by late Canadian director Rob Stewart. “Throughout this legal dispute, Sea Shepherd remained committed to the protection of the marine species in the Cocos Island marine reserve and the Osa Peninsula, especially the various shark species that are most vulnerable to illegal fishing and finning,” said the organization in its press release. “On Tuesday the criminal case against Captain Watson ended as the current government and authorities have given clear signs of support and interest to advance the cooperation agreements with Sea Shepherd,” said the organization in its press release. ------------- Should the government support more environmental protection organizations? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com *Link to reach the place on map. |
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