Iceland Arrests 21 Anti-Whaling Activists, Including One Belgian

Icelandic coast guards and special police forces have seized the anti-whaling vessel Bandero and arrested its 21-member crew, including one Belgian national, following a confrontation with a commercial whaling ship off Iceland’s coast. The arrests occurred on the night of July 30-31 after the crew of the whaling vessel Hvalur 9 requested assistance, stating they felt their safety was threatened by the protest vessel, according to AP News.

A Dramatic Boarding Operation

The Bandero, operated by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, was ordered to leave Icelandic waters and later instructed to stop its engines, but the captain refused to comply. Around midnight, coast guard personnel supported by the police special forces Viking Squad boarded the vessel, arrested the captain, and took control of the ship. The vessel was then escorted to Sundahöfn harbor in Reykjavik, where it remains anchored.

The 21 crew members were arrested and are being held aboard the ship without access to their phones. The crew includes citizens from at least 11 countries, with one Belgian national among those detained, as HLN reported. Paul Watson, the 75-year-old founder of the organization, was not aboard at the time of the seizure.

Police Seek Deportation

By August 1, interrogations of all 21 crew members had been completed, and police confirmed they would not request pre-trial detention. However, authorities are working on deportation proceedings and have requested a two-year entry ban for the group, according to Visir. The ship has been impounded, and police have seized computers and camera memory cards from the vessel as part of the investigation.

The activists are accused of violations of international maritime law and endangering maritime safety. Icelandic Coast Guard director Georg Larusson confirmed that the crew would be held aboard the ship until authorities have sufficient personnel to process their arrests, as DV reported.

Watson’s Calculated Campaign

The confrontation was part of what the Paul Watson Foundation calls “Operation 86,” a campaign named after the 1986 sinking of two Icelandic whaling ships in Reykjavik harbor by Watson’s former organization, Sea Shepherd. The operation aimed to disrupt Iceland’s commercial whaling season, which resumed on June 23 with a quota of 150 fin whales.

In an interview with Visir, Watson expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying the main goal was to direct international attention to Icelandic whaling, particularly in EU media. “I expected this, so nothing about it surprises me,” he said of the arrests. He described the special forces’ boarding as “overly dramatic,” comparing them to “American ICE agents” but acknowledged that “it looked great on camera.”

Iceland’s Contested Whaling Industry

Iceland is one of only three countries, along with Norway and Japan, that still practices commercial whaling. The industry is largely controlled by one company, Hvalur hf., owned by Kristjan Loftsson. Fin whales, the second-largest animal species on Earth, are classified as vulnerable, with approximately 100,000 remaining worldwide.

Whaling is increasingly controversial within Iceland itself. According to the UN, most Icelandic whale meat ends up on tourists’ plates, and a 2013 poll showed only 1-3% of Icelanders regularly eat whale meat. A recent poll by Utvarp Saga found that 88.28% of respondents believe Icelandic authorities show too much leniency toward Watson and the Bandero crew.

EU Accession Context

The timing of the operation is linked to Iceland’s potential EU accession negotiations. If Iceland joins the EU, whaling would likely end unless an exemption is granted. Watson has stated his goal is to draw attention to Icelandic whaling in EU media, and he believes the operation has succeeded in that aim.

“They are heroes of the sea, every one of them, people who stood for something greater than themselves against a sadistic old man,” Watson said of his detained crew. The foundation has said it will provide legal representation for the crew members.

What’s Next

As the crew remains aboard the Bandero in Reykjavik harbor, the deportation process moves forward through Iceland’s immigration service. The decision on whether to pursue criminal charges against the activists remains pending, according to police. Meanwhile, Iceland’s whaling season continues through mid-September, with the Hvalur 9 and its sister ship Hvalur 2 remaining active targets for anti-whaling campaigners.

The confrontation has reignited international debate over Iceland’s whaling practices and raised questions about the limits of environmental activism on the high seas. With Watson vowing to continue his campaign and Icelandic authorities standing firm, the standoff between conservation activists and the whaling industry shows no signs of resolution.