Iceland seeks to expel 21 anti-whaling activists after intercepting Paul Watson Foundation ship

Arrest at sea

On the evening of 30 July, the Icelandic coast guard and police special units boarded the Bandero, a vessel operated by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, and arrested all 21 people on board. The operation followed a request for assistance from the crew of the Hvalur 9, one of Iceland's last two commercial whaling ships, who said they felt threatened by the activists. According to the coast guard, the Bandero had ignored repeated orders to leave Icelandic territorial waters and then to stop its engines. The foundation stated that the Bandero had been monitoring and following the Hvalur 9 for several weeks before the interception.

The activists are accused of violations of international maritime law and endangering maritime safety, as well as other offences including breaches of telecommunications regulations.

The ship was escorted to the port of Reykjavik, where the crew remained detained on board and had their phones confiscated.

Whaling resumes after two-year pause

Iceland resumed commercial whaling this summer after a two-year suspension driven by poor economic conditions and low profitability. The season runs from mid-June to mid-September. Iceland is one of only three countries, alongside Norway and Japan, that still permit commercial whaling. The Hvalur 9 is one of just two whaling vessels still active in Icelandic waters, making it a focal point for anti-whaling campaigners.

International crew and detention conditions

The 21 detainees come from 11 countries: five Americans, four Brazilians, three French, two Spaniards, and one national each from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Trinidad and Tobago. Paul Watson himself was not on board. The foundation has condemned the detention, claiming it has lasted more than 36 hours, exceeding the 24-hour limit permitted under Icelandic law.

The detention has lasted more than 36 hours, longer than the 24 hours permitted by Icelandic legislation.

Expulsion request and next steps

On Saturday 1 August, police spokesman Gunnar Runar Sveinbjörnsson announced that authorities had requested the expulsion of all 21 crew members, along with a ban on re-entering Iceland, rather than seeking their detention. The final decision rests with the immigration authorities.

A decision is expected next week.

If granted, the expulsion would remove the activists from Iceland and bar their return, effectively ending their campaign in Icelandic waters for the foreseeable future.