Smallscreen News

'Whale Wars' Captain Paul Watson thanks Sea Shepherd supporters

By April MacIntyre Aug 3, 2011, 4:48 GMT

Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, poses at the helm of the \'Steve Irwin\' in the port of Barcelona, Spain, 19 June 2011, to promote the society\'s campaign against bluefin tuna poaching in the Mediterranean. EPA/ALBERT OLIVE

Animal Planet star Captain Paul Watson emailed Monsters and Critics with a bulletin of thanks to all the supporters who helped in freeing The Steve Irwin via generous donations.

"Sea Shepherd supporters rock!" wrote Watson. "Due to the generosity of our supporters around the world, we have raised over $735,000 to save our flagship Steve Irwin—less than two weeks after the launch of our SOS! - Save Our Ship fundraising campaign! Thank you to everyone who helped make it possible for us to fund a bond to release the vessel from detainment! Together, we will continue to make a difference."

Back on July 15, the Sea Shepherd flagship vessel the Steve Irwin was detained in the Scottish Shetland Islands pending their ability to fund a bond estimated to be in the amount of USD$1,411,692.87.

Watson writes that the detainment was ordered by British courts due to a civil lawsuit brought against us by Maltese fishing company Fish and Fish Ltd.

Watson says, "The British court set the bond today at £520,000 (approximately USD$846,290). Thankfully, we were able to post the bond earlier today, and the Steve Irwin will soon depart to the Faeroes for Operation Ferocious Isles. The Steve Irwin will join the vessel Brigitte Bardot and her crew, who are already onsite defending pilot whales."

More donations are needed as Watson outlined the ongoing costs of Operation Ferocious Isles, the transit of vessels from the northern hemisphere to the southern for Operation Divine Wind, and then the cost of that Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign as well.

"We are all on the same crew, despite our different roles and varying locations. We all feel that inner drive to protect innocent lives and ecosystems, and I know many of you have given what you can— but please keep your donations coming in. Without your help, we cannot continue this important work," writes Watson.