( CNN ) -- `` Whale Wars '' TV conservationist Paul Watson quit his conservation society Tuesday because of a recent federal court injunction against him and his group 's anti-whaling activities . Last month , the Japanese research foundation Institute of Cetacean Research and the Japanese firm Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd. secured a U.S. District Court injunction against Watson and his Sea Shepherd Conservation Society , according to the institute 's website . The injunction prohibits Watson and his group from coming within 500 yards of the plaintiffs on the open sea , according to a copy of the court document on the institute 's website . Watson has become renowned for his attempts to disrupt Japanese whalers on the open water through Animal Planet 's `` Whale Wars '' TV show . Interpol issues wanted notice for Watson . `` As a United States citizen , I will respect and comply with the ruling of the United States 9th District Court and will not violate the temporary injunction granted to the Institute for Cetacean Research , '' Watson said in a statement Tuesday . `` I will participate as an observer within the boundaries established by the 9th Circuit Court of the United States . '' Watson resigned as president and executive director of the conservation society in the United States and as president of the society in Australia . `` For the 35 years since I founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society , I have strived to act non-violently and within the boundaries of the law , '' Watson said . `` During Sea Shepherd 's long history , we have never caused a single injury to any person , '' he said . `` Although we have broken some bureaucratic regulations like Canada 's so-called Seal Protection Act , we did so to challenge the validity of these regulations , which were in contradiction to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms . `` In all other respects , we have always operated within the boundaries of the law , both international and national , '' he said in a statement . `` I myself have never been convicted of a felony crime . '' Watson skips bail , court seeks his extradition .
' Whale Wars ' - captain Paul Watson retired from anti - whaling activities . A federal injunction prevents him and his crew from assisting Japanese plaintiffs . Watson gained fame by disrupting Japanese whalers on the open sea .