The Commission has now formally removed the Red Notice from INTERPOL’s Information System, meaning that none of INTERPOL’s 196 member states or affiliated organizations can access or act on it until the Commission reaches its final decision, expected after its June 2025 session. In the meantime, Captain Watson’s freedom of movement has been fully restored.

In its statement, the Commission expressed serious concerns regarding the Notice’s compliance with INTERPOL’s rules. It cited the politically motivated nature of Japan’s case, the disproportionate nature of the arrest warrant, the risks of violating Captain Watson’s fundamental rights—including the right to a fair trial and protection from mistreatment in detention—and the presence of numerous inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and outright falsehoods in the Japanese case file.

Captain Watson remains confident that the Commission will uphold this suspension in its final ruling. He continues to fight for the protection of our oceans and marine wildlife—a mission he has championed for over 40 years. In June 2025, around the same time the Commission will issue its final decision, Captain Watson will speak at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, where he has been invited to share his perspective as a leading voice in international ocean conservation.

This decision marks another step forward for justice—and a powerful message to those who attempt to use legal systems to silence environmental defenders.