July 6, 2023

Commentary by Captain Paul Watson

Founder of the Captain Paul Watson and Neptune’s Navy

For all those who supported what we once were and wish to continue what we once were, the good news is that the Captain Paul Watson Foundation and Neptune’s Navy is the continuation of our same legacy of the last 45 years.

What has been taken from us in a hostile takeover is the name that I created in 1977 and the logos I designed. They took our ships; they took our assets, and they took our list of supporters. 

Who are these people? Unfortunately, they are people I trusted and mentored and worked with for years, now with comfortable and secure jobs, and now more interested in marketing merchandise and securing corporate and government partnerships.

Why did they do this? Because we were too confrontational and too controversial, the very things that made us the most effective marine conservation movement on the planet.

Behind my back they called it the “Watson Problem.” I was standing in the way of their plan for governmental and corporate partnerships. I refused to work in collaboration with fishing corporations, marine aquariums, and corrupt governments. I refused to greenwash the crimes of governments and fishing companies that they partnered with.

What they did not consider is that it was not just me. Thousands of our supporters held the same position and rallied to my side.

I am very grateful for all the supporters who have come forward to support us and to all of the veteran crew now serving on our very first ship the John Paul DeJoria. 

What we have retained is the passion, the courage, the determination, and the imagination that we have been known for, for decades, and these are the things they cannot ever take away from us. 

We are relatively poor in comparison to what we once were, but damn it, we’re back out to sea and presently opposing the slaughter of endangered Fin whales in Icelandic waters and the horrific slaughter of pilot whales and dolphins in Faroese waters.

Those who ousted me wanted me to disappear. They have already removed me from the websites, and they have erased hundreds of pages of our history and now they are suing us to prevent us from accessing our history as they lay claim to our historical archives and our assets.

The Japanese whaling fleet could not stop us in the Southern Ocean, the whaling nations of Norway and Iceland could not stop us from defending whales and dolphins, the Canadian government could not stop us from defending seals and these people who have taken over what we once were will not stop us from continuing what we need to continue to do to protect life and diversity in the sea.

We are rebuilding and we intend to continue our unique strategy of aggressive non-violence.

The many people who have supported what we were, did so because we were non-compromising and not afraid to rock the boat and to make waves.

We have stepped off the safe ship that remains in the calm waters of compromise onto a valiant new ship sailing into harm’s way in stormy weather.

This is a call to all those who supported us in the past to continue to support us in the present and the future. We are the same crew as before, but under a different name and banner.

Join us as we continue to rock the boat and to make waves, to say the things that need to be said and to do the deeds that need to be done.

We are Neptune’s Navy!!!!