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The agreement comes after the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would not hear an appeal of the contempt finding against Sea Shepherd. The justices on Monday let stand a lower court ruling that said Sea Shepherd and Watson violated a court order to stop their dangerous protests.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that the transfer of assets and control of Sea Shepherd to Australia and other countries didn’t change its 2012 order to the group to cease its dangerous activities. It said the group’s U.S. affiliate could be found liable for aiding and abetting the organization’s foreign offices to violate the court’s injunction.

The Japanese whalers were demanding $2 million in damages and attorney fees. The settlement figure of $2.55 million is due on or before July 1, 2015.

Sea Shepherd says funding to pay the settlement will come from money from other legal actions and settlements, and will not include donor funds.

“Sea Shepherd does not agree with the Ninth Circuit’s holding that it was in contempt, but after more than two years of litigation, we are very pleased to be putting the contempt action behind us,” said Claire Loebs Davis, a Sea Shepherd lawyer.

The Institute for Cetacean Research is still seeking a permanent injunction against Sea Shepherd in a Seattle court to keep the organization and Watson from approaching within 500 yards of its vessels.

With files from The Associated Press