411 Dive Log Australasia April 2025

Homopecheophobia By Captain Paul Watson

2000 - My crew and I were attacked repeatedly from November 13-17, 2000, in the Galapagos by angry sea cucumber fishermen. The fishermen engaged in a number of violent activities, including seizing local government and research institutions, kidnapping giant tortoises and ramming tourist boats. The private home of the Galapagos National Park Director Juan Chavez was

There is a phobia with regard to fish called Ichthyophobia. But is there a phobia with regard to fishermen? Commercial fishermen tend to react in a mob faction. I have myself experienced this many times, as an object of fishermen mob violence.

1977 - I was thrown into the icy waters off Labrador and pulled through a gauntlet of Norwegian fishermen and pelted with seal guts. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were on the scene. They stood by and watched and did nothing. 1979 - I was beaten by fisheries officers and left exposed in subzero temperatures while soaking wet on the deck of a Canadian Coast Guard ship. The Coast Guard and the Mounties stood by and watched and did nothing. I was charged with assault because the boots of the officer came in contact with my head. 1993 - I took my ship the Cleveland Amory to the Nose and Tail of the Newfoundland Grand Banks to chase Spanish and Cuban draggers out of the area where there was a moratorium, and Canadian fishermen had been banned from fishing. After forcing two draggers to depart without causing any damage, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Mounties arrested me and charged me with three counts of Mischief. Although I was acquitted after an expensive trial, the trawlers were allowed to continue their illegal activities. 1995 - I was attacked by a mob of drunken fishermen in the Canadian Magdalen Islands. I was beaten, journalists were beaten and threatened and the police stood by and watched and did nothing. The Canadian Minister of Fisheries Brian Tobin said he understood the fishermen’s anger and did nothing.

invaded and destroyed. Rioting fishermen threw rocks at the rangers and my crew and threatened to kill us. The response from the Ecuadorian government was to give the fishermen what they demanded. My crew and I were called to the Port Captain’s office and warned to not say anything publicly about the riot or we would be jailed. My response was, “well then toss us in jail because we ain’t gonna be quiet.” He told us to get out of his office and to watch our backs because the Navy had no intention of protecting us. 2001 - Ecuadorian fishermen demanding higher quotas on sea cucumbers rioted and seized the offices of the Galapagos National Park on Isabela Island and threatened to kill endangered tortoises unless they got what they demanded. Six of my crew were kidnapped and held hostage for a week. No charges against the kidnappers. operation by a Costa Rican fishing boat. No one was injured but I was charged with attempted murder based on the word of the fishermen. Fortunately, we had filmed everything, and the charges were dropped. Ten years later they charged me again for this incident and placed me on the Interpol Red List. In 2019, Costa Rica dismissed the charges after a new government was elected. 2002 - At the request of the Guatemalan government, I stopped a shark poaching

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