We have been following the sometimes criminal, usually ludicrous exploits of Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd, as he has threatened fishermen and coastal peoples around the world in his quest to gain media attention. His summer plan was to invade the Caribbean and harass the whalers of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but while in the vicinity, his ship was boarded by local authorities, who, (according to an announcement made at the IWC by a Caribbean official) discovered and confiscated a number of high caliber rifles and a large supply of ammunition. Many others and we have wondered why such items were on board a supposedly peaceful vessel that was "guarding" whales from whalers.

Although the Sea Shepherd had announced that the ship would be in the Caribbean until the end of the whaling season in November, it soon appeared to have gone through the Panama Canal to the Galapagos, where it was also boarded by authorities from the Ecuadorian Navy. Paul's story never coincides with that of the national officials who either board him or kick him out of their waters, or both. According to the SSCS web site, the Ocean Warrior is most recently off the western coast of Costa Rica, periodically contacting any media that might be willing to "report" on their "eco-hero" adventures.

It is difficult to believe that this organization has genuine conservation concerns, or that any rational people who are acquainted with his colorful history of vandalism, piracy, and menacing, can believe that Watson wants to "help" them for altruistic or socially responsible reasons. We applaud the law enforcement authorities in the many countries who have taken a firm stand in keeping the Sea Shepherd out of their territorial waters and who have refused to assist him in his never-ending quest for media attention.