Sea Shepherd U.K. and Captain Paul Watson have won the lawsuit filed by Fish and Fish that was filed in response to the release of 800 illegally caught Bluefin tuna
in June 2010 off the coast of Libya.
The Judge in the case announced his decision this morning in the courtroom in London. His ruling was that the U.K. Court was not the proper place to file the suit against Sea Shepherd and ordered the case against the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Sea Shepherd U.K. and Captain Paul Watson dismissed. Fish and Fish requested an appeal. The Judge refused the appeal. Fish and Fish may still appeal the ruling to a higher court.
Pending a possible appeal, Sea Shepherd will have the bond of 520,000 pounds ($78,000.00 U.S.) returned. The judge ruled that Fish and Fish must pay a percentage of Sea Shepherd`s legal fees in the case which could amount to over 200,000 additional pounds.
This case saw the Steve Irwin arrested in Scotland in July of 2011 and released only after the bond was posted. The bond was raised in only 10 days from Sea Shepherd supporters worldwide.
"What we did in 2010 we have no apologies for," Said Captain Paul Watson. "We freed 800 large endangered Bluefin tuna illegally caught by poachers off the coast of Libya. We cut the nets and when the Maltese company that claimed ownership of these liberated fish sued us, we stood our ground in court and we won, the tuna won, and the poachers lost. Our British lawyers did an excellent job. I am confident that if an appeal is granted, we will see the appeal court upholding this ruling. Bottom line and mist importantly, the fish were freed and the company failed to recover their requested losses for their illegal catch."
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will continue to aggressively oppose the illegal exploitation of Bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. The society is seeking a vessel dedicated to the protection and conservation of biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea.
"Sail forth – steer for the deep waters only,
Reckless O soul, exploring, I with thee and thou with me,
For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go,
And we will risk the ship, our selves and all."
– Walt Whitman
Captain Paul Watson, Founder and President – Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (1977 – 2011), Co-Founder – The Greenpeace Foundation (1972), Director – Greenpeace Foundation (1972-1977), Co-Founder – Greenpeace International (1979), National Director – The Sierra Club (2003-2006), Director – Farley Mowat Institute, Director – Sea Shepherd Europe, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, U.K., U.S.A. Master and Commander of the m/v/ Steve Irwin, m/v Bob Barker and m/v Brigitte Bardot
Lecture and Literary Agent: William Morris Endevor Entertainment