Mission Statement: The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is a non-profit, non--governmental organization (NGO) involved with the investigation and documentation of violations of international laws, regulations and treaties protecting marine wildlife species. The Society is also involved with the enforcement of international laws, regulations and treaties when there is no enforcement by national governments or international regulatory organizations due to absence of jurisdiction or lack of political will.
P.O. Box 2616
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Phone: 360-370-5500
Fax: 360-370-5506
E-mail: seashepherd@seashepherd.org
Web site: www.seashepherd.org
Formed: 1977
Membership Cost: $25, but more is always appreciated
Chapters: United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Sweden
Executive Director: Captain Paul Watson (also founder and president)
From the Beach: 100% of funds come from contributions
To the Beach: 80% used for programs, 20% used for administrative, ship and support expenses
Roots | Past Victories | Present Battles
Roots
"The whale rolled amidst a boiling cauldron of its own fluid. A scarlet stain leached forth in fiery tongues to inflame and color the water. From deep-sea royal blue to obscene scarlet. This was not the Nile turning to blood by the power of God. This was the blasphemy of man insulting the ocean and her children." -- Captain Paul Watson, describing his first physical attempt to hinder illegal Russian whaling in the waters off Eureka, California
Radical and forceful. Unforgivable and terrorizing. A fearless godsend. Valuable and crucial. All are adjectives used to categorize the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, launched in 1977 by Captain Paul Watson, a founding father of Greenpeace.
Inspired by a deeply intense passion triggered by the moment he peered into the dying eye of a freshly harpooned whale, Watson and his smallish coterie of dedicated volunteers have since sunk nine whaling ships and have rammed and disabled several illegal drift net operations without injuring a single human.
"We're proud of that," said Frank Trinkle, public relations and developments director for the Society. "We've offered to take responsibility [for the sinkings], but nobody wants to prosecute us because it would be an admission of major violations of international laws and treaties. At one point, when we rammed the Japanese, they refused to admit that it even happened."
Watson's brainchild became the sole organization banned from attending meetings of the International Whaling Commission, yet the only global organization that actively enforces the International Whaling Commission's ban on whaling. With hard evidence on film, the Society has been able to connect intimately with the media to broadcast its campaigns and document its successes. The Society put an end to commercial sealing in both Canada and in the Orkney Islands off Scotland, stymied the dolphin slaughter off Japan and halted illegal drift netters in the Pacific.
"The reality is, we're much better known in Europe, Japan, Norway and some other areas where we've done heavy actions," Trinkle said. "The U.S. hasn't covered us a whole lot, although that's all going to change because there's a major motion picture being made about our previous exploits. In a year-and-a-half or so, when the movie finally hits the theaters, a lot more people are going to know who we are."
Past Victories
(1979) Brought an end to pirate whaling in the North Atlantic
Captain Paul Watson and crew infiltrated the international crime operation that was funding the illegal whaling ship Sierra and proceeded to Portugal to ram the ship. After the scuttle, the Sierra's owners announced that they would cease whaling. Shortly after, all other illegal whaling operations cease in the Atlantic.
(1979) Challenged Canadian and Norwegian seal hunting laws
SSCS's aggressive actions regarding the Canadian and Norwegian seal hunts have changed laws and helped create the ban in Europe and the United States against the importation of seal products.
(1982) Aggressively protected the world's dolphin population
Since helping Japan end its dolphin killing in 1982, SSCS's actions have led to the creation of the "Dolphin-Safe" tuna label law.
(1991) Significantly reduced illegal drift net fishing in the Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean waters
"Now, when a Sea Shepherd ship shows up, it puts the fear of God into drift net fishermen," Trinkle said. Sea Shepard's work helped pass a United Nations law in 1991 that banned drift net fishing worldwide as of 1993.
(1998-2000) Helped halt proposed construction of a Mitsubishi-owned salt plant at Laguna San Ignacio, Baja Sur
The Mexican government bowed to the organization and others, scrapping plans for a gargantuan salt works smack-dab in the middle of Baja's most crucial gray whale birthing zone.
Present Battles
Campaign to oppose shark-finning
SSCS wants the practice outlawed as the numbers of various shark species have been reduced dramatically over the past 10 years. The fins sell for up to $250 per pound and are used as an aphrodisiac in China and elsewhere.
An aggressive campaign to halt the killing of pilot whales in the Faeroe Islands
These islands, south of Iceland, endure the largest whale-hunt in the world that kills up to 3,000 whales annually by herding them into bays, where they are "slashed and killed in the most barbaric method that you can possibly imagine." Called "Grindstop 2000," the campaign promises to end the slaughter.
Campaign to oppose the illegal Norwegian and Japanese "research" whaling, plus Iceland's plans to resume whaling
The Norwegians harvest up to 800 minke whales per year, while the Japanese harvest, through a research clause in the International Whaling Commission's treaties, up to 400 minkes from Antarctic waters for "research."
Campaign to oppose marine poaching off the coast of Brazil
In April, SSCS commenced aerial patrols on behalf of the Brazilians to stop illegal fishing.
Ongoing mobilization of clean-up crews for oil spills worldwide
In 1999, Sea Shepard volunteers helped clean up after oil spills in both France and Turkey. In 2000, they helped clean up a large spill in Brazil. --Mike Kew
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
