NZ activist settles with Sea Shepherd NEW Zealand environmentalist Peter Bethune has settled his grievance with the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd over money he says he was owed from the sale of a boat. Mr Bethune took Sea Shepherd to court in the United States, saying the society owed him $US500,000 ($A504,210) from the sale of the Ady Gil, which sank after colliding with a Japanese whaling ship in the Southern Ocean in 2010. He later spent five months in a maximum security prison in Japan for illegally boarding a whaling ship a month after the Ady Gil sank, during which time he fell out with Sea Shepherd. The two parties had a court hearing in Annapolis, Maryland last year, but a posting on Mr Bethune's Facebook page says they have reached an agreement following arbitration. The agreement involves a financial settlement paid to Mr Bethune provided he helps ensure Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson avoids extradition to Japan. Mr Watson and Mr Bethune fell out after the incidents in 2010. The Facebook page does not say what the financial settlement was, but 3 News says it was for the full $US500,000 plus interest and costs. Mr Bethune says he was pleased the case was over. Fighting between individuals and organisations that are fundamentally working towards the same goals is a waste of time, money and effort that could be better spent protecting marine life and environments.