Federal court finds protesters in contempt for ignoring order to halt anti-whaling campaign

Radical environmentalists have been found in contempt of court for failing to heed an order to halt their relentless campaign to disrupt the annual whale hunt off the waters of Antarctica.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ordered a lower court to determine how much Paul Watson and members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society he founded owe Japanese whalers. They're required to pay for violating the court order to stop their dangerous protests, and cover lawyer fees and damage to the whalers' ships and.

Watson's exploits have been featured on the Animal Planet reality television show "Whale Wars."

Last year, the court ordered Sea Shepherd to stay at least 500 feet from Japanese whalers. Watson then transferred U.S. assets of Sea Shepherd to foreign entities of the group.

The 9th Circuit says its ruling to halt the harassment also applies to the foreign entities.