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Fugitive environmentalist vows to disrupt Japanese whaling

Paul Watson, the fugitive founder of environmental group Sea Shepherd, vowed Tuesday to continue disrupting Japan's whaling fleet when it heads for the southern oceans this winter, despite authorities in at least three countries seeking his arrest.

Paul Watson, the fugitive founder of environmental group Sea Shepherd, vowed Tuesday to continue disrupting Japan's whaling fleet when it heads for the southern oceans this winter, despite authorities in at least three countries seeking his arrest.

The 61-year-old former Vancouver resident was detained in Germany in May on a Costa Rican extradition warrant that accused him of endangering the crew of a fishing vessel in 2002.

About 10 days ago, however, Watson skipped bail after learning that Japan, too, was seeking his extradition from Germany.

"I can serve my clients better at sea than in a Japanese prison cell and I intend to do just that," the Canadian said in a statement issued by his U.S.-based group, which didn't disclose his current location.

Watson said he believed the Japanese warrant related to the collision of a Japanese whaling support ship and a Sea Shepherd boat in January 2010.