In 2008, Paul Watson persuaded the Discovery Channel to make a reality show documentary about the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's campaign against Japanese whalers off the coast of Antarctica. The program premiered on November 7, 2008, on the Animal Planet cable channel and follows events on the Steve Irwin as the group attempts to deter the hunting of Minke and Fin whales in the Southern Ocean.

Paul Watson alleges he was shot by the Japanese crew or coast guard personnel during the campaign. The incident is heavily documented during the show in the final episode, and the first six episodes are covered as a buildup to what is portrayed as the major incident during the campaign. The footage in "Whale Wars" shows Watson standing on the deck of the Steve Irwin while Sea Shepherd crew throws stink bombs made of glass bottles filled with butyric acid at the Nisshin Maru whaling vessel.