Paul Watson Honored as Citizen of Paris for Environmental Advocacy

The Sea Shepherd founder receives recognition from Anne Hidalgo after years of activism and legal challenges.

Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd, was awarded the honorary citizenship of Paris by Mayor Anne Hidalgo in recognition of his environmental and human rights advocacy.
Watson, a long-time defender of marine biodiversity, has faced international legal battles, including a recent five-month detention in Greenland over allegations from Japan regarding a 2010 anti-whaling campaign.
Anne Hidalgo emphasized the symbolic importance of the honor, calling for France to grant Watson full citizenship as he awaits a decision on his October 2024 application.
Watson reiterated his commitment to non-violent activism and announced Sea Shepherd's continued missions to monitor whaling activities near Iceland and Australia this year.
The activist criticized Interpol's red notice system, arguing it is often misused to target environmental and human rights defenders globally.