Paul Watson Biography

Television personality and marine wildlife conservationist Paul Watson was born in 1950 in Toronto. Today, Watson is best known as founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the anti-poaching and activist group which was featured on the hit reality series Whale Wars. But long before Watson became a television personality and hero to environmentalists around the world, he first joined the Sierra Club in the late 1960’s, before becoming a founding board member of Greenpeace in 1972.

Paul Watson severed ties with Greenpeace in the late 1970’s, after a disagreement over the interpretation of “nonviolent” action; as anyone who has watched the show Whale Wars can determine, Paul advocates for a more “directed” version of conservationist action. In 1978, Watson purchased the Sea Shepherd vessel and established the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The Sea Shepherd had already spent decades using a variety of invasive tactics at sea to impede the goals of whaling ships. The organization has also sought to end or at least equally impede the annual Canadian seal hunts.

Proudly embracing the title of “eco-terrorist” (bestowed upon Watson by the Japanese government for his direct action tactics against their country’s whalers), Paul Watson has faced numerous legal challenges in Japan and other whaling and sea-hunting nations. Because of these complications, Paul Watson stepped down from his head position at the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 2013. The series Whale Wars concluded in 2015, but Watson’s conservation and advocacy efforts continue

Watson has authored numerous books on his efforts, the most recent of which – Earthforce! An Earth Warrior’s Guide to Strategy, 2nd Edition – was published in 2012. Paul Watson has been inducted into the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame, and in 2000 he was named one of Time Magazine’s Top Twenty Environmental Heroes of the 20th Century.