The Whale Museum’s 2010 Lecture Series presents Capt. Paul Watson on Aug. 27, 7 p.m., at the Grange Hall on First Street in Friday Harbor.

The event is free and open to the public.

For 30 years, Watson has been at the helm of the world’s most active marine protection non-profit organization, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His career as a Master Mariner began in 1968 as a seaman with the Merchant Marines and with the Canadian Coast Guard.

Watson majored in communications and linguistics at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. In 1972, he co-founded the Greenpeace Foundation in Vancouver, B.C.

Until 1977, Watson served as First Officer on all Greenpeace voyages, and on a campaign against Russian whalers he implemented his idea of putting activists in a zodiac between the harpoon and the whale. From 1976-77, he led all of the Greenpeace expeditions to protect harp seals on the ice floes of eastern Canada.

In 1977, Watson left Greenpeace because he felt the original goals of the organization were being compromised, and because he saw a specific, global need to continue direct-action, conservation activities on the high seas.

In 1977, Watson founded Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, dedicated to research, investigation, and the enforcement of laws, treaties, resolutions, and regulations established to protect marine wildlife and their habitats worldwide. In between campaigns, Watson travels and lectures extensively at universities and events around the world, including Pasadena College of Design and UCLA.

He has authored six books: “Shepherds of the Sea” (1979); “Sea Shepherd: My Fight for Whales and Seals” (1982); “Cry Wolf” (1985); “Earthforce!” (1993); “Ocean Warrior” (1994); and “Seal Wars” (2002). In addition, he has been the subject of numerous magazine articles and profiles including being chosen by Time Magazine in 2000 as one of the environmental heroes of the 20th Century.

The Aug. 27 lecture is open to the public with a suggested minimum donation of $5 per person. Call 378-4710, ext. 23.

The Whale Museum is located in Friday Harbor at 62 First St. N. Founded in 1979, The Whale Museum’s mission is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research.

In addition to providing exhibits, the museum also provides programs including the Marine Naturalist Training, Orca Adoption Program, Soundwatch Boater Education, San Juan Islands Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and the Whale Hotline.

The Whale Museum can be found online at www.whalemuseum.org.