SAN JOSE – The Vice Chancellor of the Republic of Costa Rica Carlos Roverssi met with a handful of protesters assembled outside of his office in San Jose yesterday. About 60 supporters of Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society who is currently in the custody of German authorities, gathered in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vice Chancellor Roverssi found out about the presence of the protesters as he reported to work on Friday morning. He stopped to listen and invited five of them to come into his office. According to digital newspaper Costa Rica Hoy, the demonstrators carried picket signs and sat on the wide steps of the iconic Casa Amarilla (Yellow House). A traffic policeman on the scene reminded them to stay on the sidewalk due to the heavy traffic in the area.

The protest was coordinated by different groups on Facebook. National newspaper La Nacion spoke to members of Selvatica, a group that has more than 3,000 followers. Mr. Arturo Carballo stated his position on the extradition request:

“For us it a shame to punish those who protect our [natural] resources. We want to raise awareness about Watson’s case and tell the world of the corruption and mafia activities surrounding the environmental discourse and imposing themselves on political decisions, and to also issue a call for help due to the corruption present on the ecological realm.”

The Ministry issued an official communique yesterday afternoon, shortly after the Vice Chancellor finished his meeting with the demonstrators he invited to his office. The communication essentially reiterated Costa Rica’s commitment to fight against shark fin poachers and the separation of powers that prevents the government from taking a position on the matter of Mr. Watson’s detention.

Vice Chancellor Roverssi explained to the protesters in his office that they should be meeting with other institutions so that their concerns can be adequately heard and addressed.

One of the members of Selvatica carried a picket sign that read:

Free Paul Watson: Everyone should know. Costa Rica has been taken over by the mafia.

Meanwhile in Frankfurt, Mr. Watson has been granted bail and may post a bond in the amount of 250,000 euros that will allow him to be freed from custody. La Nacion reported that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is scrambling to come up with the funds. According to Charity Navigator, a site dedicated to analysis of the finances and transparency of non-profit organizations, Mr. Watson received an annual salary of $96,000 in 2010, excluding non-cash benefits.

The fifth season of the popular Whale Wars reality television show, starring Mr. Watson and the crew of the Research Vessel Steve Irwin, comes to an end on Animal Planet this weekend. It is not clear if another season will be produced.