Sea Shepherd is a non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization established in 1977. Its mission is to end the destruction of habitat slaughter of wildlife In the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species (1). The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is led by Captain Paul Watson a Canadian born in Toronto, Ontario. Paul Watson was a co-founder of Greenpeace and has been putting himself in-between whales and harpoon ships for 30 years(2). The Sea Shepherd has done many different campaigns over the years to help preserve our ocean life. On October 6, 2003 Sea Shepherd crew members risked their lives climbing the cliffs to get pictures of the dolphin slaughter in a remote cove in Taiji, Japan. On November 18, 2003 two crew members jumped into the cove and successfully freed 15 dolphins (3). They use direct action to help protect dolphins against threats humans have created such as fishing, entanglement in fishing gear, boat traffic and marine pollution. Since 2000, Sea Sheppard has had a strong presence in the Galapagos Islands from stopping illegal fishing activities to busting shark finner’s. Since 90% of the worlds large shark population is already wiped out they are being depleted faster than they can reproduce(3). If humanity cannot protect such a unique and diverse ecosystem, we will not be able to protect any ecosystem (4). Sea Sheppard has also played a role in using direct action to stop the annual Canadian seal hunt which kills at least 354,344 seals a year as documented in the 2006 Canadian seal hunt (5). One of the Sea Shepherd most devoted and successful campaigns is their defending of whales worldwide. In 1986, the International Whaling Commission put a suspension on commercial whaling but since then Iceland, Norway and Japan have slaughtered over 25,000 whales claming it is for scientific research (3). Sea Shepherd is the only organization who’s mission is to enforce these regulations on the sea. Sea Shepherd uses direct-action tactics (Stink bombs, water cannons, ship jumping, intimidation etc.) to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the seas (3).
The Sea Shepherd has saved thousands of whales and with their success of each campaign has managed to keep illegal whaling an important issue. Animal Planet has also issued the Sea Shepherd their own show which documents their fight against Japan to protect whales. It documents Captain Paul Watson on his mission to help protect the biodiversity of our ocean ecosystems (6). Although Sea Shepherd uses somewhat violent means to get their message across they still positively affect the biodiversity of our ecosystems. We all must work together to help ensure the survival of our ecosystems for future generations because if we don’t, we’ll have nothing left.
Interested in helping? Click the link to sign the petition to help protect the dolphins being slaughtered in Taiji: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/stop-the-dolphin-slaughter/
Work Cited:
1. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society - Who we are/ mission. Sea Shepherd, 2010. http://www.seashepherd.org/who-we-are/
2. Guardian Environment Network - Sea Shepherd's Paul Watson. Michael Shapiro, Tuesday 21 September 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/21/sea-shepherd-paul-watson-whales
3. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society- Campaign home. Sea Shepherd, 2010. http://www.seashepherd.org/campaigns/
4.Ocean Sentry- Galapagos Islands. Friday 02 October 2009. http://www.oceansentry.org/lang-en/menu-news/environment/2306-galapagos-islands-affected-by-global-warming.html
5. The Humane Society of the United States- About the Canadian Seal Hunt. 2006. http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/protect_seals/about_the_canadian_seal_hunt/6. Animal Planet- Whale Wars. http://www.animalplanet.ca/Showpage.aspx?sid=18223
Comments:
1. http://vilmabioblog.blogspot.com/
2. http://ankerlovesbio.blogspot.com/
