Whaling protest captain receives 'Crocodile Hunter' honour

AFP, March, 2008

SYDNEY (AFP) — The captain of a militant protest ship involved in a series of high-seas clashes with Japanese whalers received an award Thursday from the widow of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin.

Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was named "Wildlife Warrior" of the year by the conservation foundation set up by Irwin, who died from a stingray barb in 2006.

Watson captained the ship "Steve Irwin" -- named after the conservationist -- in the Southern Ocean, harassing Japanese whalers pursuing the giant mammals.

The International Whaling Commission has condemned Watson's tactics, which include throwing stink bombs on whalers and boarding the Japanese vessels, but he was unrepentant.

Watson also claimed he was shot earlier this month in a clash with a whaling ship when ...