At a recent Motley Crue concert in Bamberg, Germany legendary drummer Tommy Lee spoke up about conservation group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and, Captain Paul Watson.
Tommy spoke about Captain Watson being detained in Germany awaiting extradition to Costa Rica regarding a 2002 charge for interfering with an illegal shark-finning operation.
Tommy also talked about the practice of shark-finning, where almost 100 million sharks have their fin cut off sharks per year and thrown back in the sea to drown, or starve. Tommy encouraged fans to contact Germany’s Ministry of Justice to demand Captain Watson’s release and then led fans in the chant “Free Paul Watson!”
The incident orginally took place in Guatemalan waters in 2002 when Sea Shepherd discovered an illegal Costa Rican shark-finning vessel, theVaradero.
Apparently, on order of Guatemalan authorities, the Sea Shepherd instructed the Varadero to cease and desist their shark-finning activities and head back to port to be prosecuted.
While returning to port, a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew. To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where the crew uncovered the scope of the illegal shark-finning activities thousands of dried shark fins on the roofs of buildings.
Watson was arrested May 13 at Frankfurt Airport and has been under detention ever since awaiting a decision for extradition.
The Costa Rica News
San Jose Costa Rica
