The Institute of Cetacean Research
Institute of Cetacean Research and Kyodo Senpaku to Receive $2.55 Million from Sea Shepherd for Unlawful Attack
9 June 2015
The Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) and Kyodo Senpaku (KS) will receive a total of $2.55 million from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, under the terms of an agreement reached among ICR, KS, Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson and former Sea Shepherd directors to resolve contempt charges against them in the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. On December 19, 2014 Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Paul Watson and the former directors were found in civil contempt of an injunction established by the Ninth Circuit on December 17, 2012. The settlement figure of $2.55 million arises from the contempt, was agreed in negotiations amongst the parties that have taken place since the court's ruling, will be paid by wire transfer on or before July 1, 2015 and is enforceable by the U.S. courts.
The Ninth Circuit's injunction, which remains in place, prohibits Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Paul Watson and any person acting in concert with them from approaching within 500 yards of the vessels operated by ICR and KS on the high seas in the Southern Ocean, physically attacking them or interfering with their safe navigation. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Paul Watson and the former directors broke the law when the injunction was violated in January and February 2013. Sea Shepherd admitted in court that the vessels Steve Irwin, Bob Barker, Sam Simon and Brigitte Bardot all breached the 500 yard perimeter established by the court. The violent attacks by the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker were later broadcast by Animal Planet on its show Whale Wars.
The original lawsuit, filed in December 2011, is still underway before the District Court. That lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to prevent Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson and persons acting in concert with them from engaging in activities that could cause injuries to the crews and damage to the vessels operated by ICR and KS and from raising money for those activities.
In a related development, the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday rejected a request by Sea Shepherd to review the Contempt decision.
The Release and Settlement Agreement for the contempt action can be accessed at : https://www.icrwhale.org/pdf/150609gouisho.pdf
US Courts for the 9th Circuit ICR vs SSCS : http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/general/2014/12/19/12-35266%2012-19%20Opinion.pdf
Institute of Cetacean Research and Kyodo Senpaku to Receive $2.55 Million from Sea Shepherd for Unlawful Attack (PDF file)