posted 07-11-2008 07:30 AM ET (US)        

For those of you not familiar with Sea Shepherd, they are an environmental group that aggressively takes a stand against organizations or countries that rape our ocean's marine life. Sort of like Greenpeace on steroids. The "Steve Irwin"s current focus is to disrupt the Japanese whaling fleet when they come down to Antarctica to harvest 1000 Fin and Minke whales in the name of Research.

For the past 30 years I've spent a chunk of my time working on ships and tugboats. And whalering. This was my way of giving back to the seas that have provided so much to me. It's been a great experience working with an almost totally volunteer crew who are so dedicated to their beliefs.

Here's a link to their website:
seashepherd.org

posted 07-11-2008 08:48 AM ET (US)            

Erik

posted 07-11-2008 10:01 AM ET (US)            

Cool pics.

posted 07-11-2008 10:40 AM ET (US)            

For those of you who don't know, Matt, Warren/WT and I have been boat partners for three years--owned and operated three Whalers together and gotten to know each other pretty well in the process. My hat is off (which I don't do very often for fear of blinding people with the sun's reflection off my balding dome) to Matt for his commitment to the environment and to the sea. He has been an inspiration to me and my family, since he lives his beliefs rather than just talking about them. See ya soon in California, pard, and our very best regards,

posted 07-12-2008 12:47 AM ET (US)            

The shore crew consists of a manager, chief engineer and a cook as permanent and then about 10 volunteers from around the world with varying degrees of skills. Then there are a contingent of local Melbourne volunteers who come for the day to either work or stand watch.

All the shore stuff we do is pretty mundane. But come December, the crew does hang their butt out there in defense of the whales. Kevin, I can fully understand your opposition to our tactics. I had reservations also before I came here. Greenpeace actually hates Sea Shepherd. But since learning more and talking to people who been on the campaigns, I'm pretty OK with what Sea Shepherd does. In the 30 years that Sea Shepherd has operated, they boast that no one, crew or opponent has ever been seriously hurt or killed during an action. And no crew member has ever been convicted of any crime.

posted 07-12-2008 01:49 AM ET (US)            

Glad to see you're helping the whales. Strike 3 is waiting for the three of us to take her out for some rock cod.

Stay safe,

posted 07-12-2008 02:59 AM ET (US)            

Whether you believe it or not, each year thousands of baby harp seals are brutally killed for their fur, unfortunately with the Canadian government's sanction.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/elaelap/harpseal.jpg

It's illegal under Canadian law to even take photos of the slaughter, let alone interfere in any way. Tens of thousands of Canadians and people from all over the world protest the hunt each year in various ways, and some violate the misguided laws by doing so, just as many people in this country participated in non-violent civil disobedience and purposefully violated unjust segregation laws during the 'sixties. Sea Shepherd activists did involve themselves in the continuing campaign against the seal slaughter, and the Canadian government reacted unwisely and charged some members with crimes. As one political philosopher stated: "When laws and rules are foolish and serve no purpose, an honorable man is duty-bound to disregard them. It's the only way to prevent our lives from being governed by fools."

The entire world (except for Japan and Norway) condemns whale hunting, and the Sea Shepherd organization has taken courageous action for many years to 1) interfere with the killing; and 2) to draw attention to what's going on; to raise public consciousness. If you believe that whales should be slaughtered for food, fine, that's your right. But please don't attack and insult courageous, committed people who put themselves in harms way to protect the creatures. If you want to find out more about these and other Sea Shepherd activities, go to their website and educate yourself.

Finally, it's not a liberal vs conservative thing. Sea Shepherd volunteers come from all areas of the political spectrum, and many principled conservatives are as concerned about environmental issues as liberals, no matter what idiots like Rush Fatbaugh might say.

Tony

posted 07-12-2008 03:56 AM ET (US)            

This is what Sea Shepherd opposes and will take an active stand against:
Commercial Whaling
Harp seal harvest
40mile Longlining for sharks just for their fins
Drift netting that kills indiscriminately
Dolphin slaughter in Japan

posted 07-12-2008 08:55 AM ET (US)            

And yes they were in international waters, not Canadaian waters, however it was easier to have them removed by saying they violated the boundary.

I am a veterinarian who went to school in Prince Edward Island, Canada and have experience with the seal hunt. One thing I can tell you is that the annual seal hunt is an unneccesary atrocity, serving absolutely no purpose. I love Canada and it is a wonderfull country (my wife and kids are Canadian), however Canadians should be embarrassed that they let this continue each year.

posted 07-12-2008 10:37 AM ET (US)            

As a show of my support (and as a direct response to some of the criticism leveled above) I have just made a $100 donation to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Perhaps others may choose to join me:

posted 07-12-2008 11:44 AM ET (US)            

Bodega Bay "Clay" (His Dad owns one of the Marina's) is up here trying to restore a 180 ft Trawler.
Steve Irwins wife is from Eugene.

I dont know enough about the Whale situation to form a opinion, but I do know, if I was Skipper on a ship that had orders to harvest whales legally, I would do everything within my power to protect my vessel/crew from harm.

Matt, be careful with this.
Draw attention to the situation, prepare the ship & enjoy the scenery. Make sure you know who you are sailing with man, check out the bridge crew's credentials (the best place to do this is in a bar). Make sure the Skipper is a Bonfified Seaman and not a violent "Tree Arrow vigilante" (insane).

posted 07-12-2008 06:39 PM ET (US)            

I understand from some scientists that whales are so full of mercury they are sometimes treated as a toxic waste and the market for whale meat in Japan is not that good given teh high levels of muercury.

posted 07-12-2008 11:37 PM ET (US)            

Towboater, you bring up an insightful sailor's view of this. I had many a conversation with Tuco regarding the qualifications of people I'd find on the ship. There are definitely some folks onboard who have more zeal than skill. But the chief engineer is a semi-retired Scottish chap whose knowledge and experience puts mine to shame. And Paul Watson, love him or hate him is a hard core sailor. I've watched video of the RIBs in action. I always felt like I can drive a boat pretty well. Not like these guys. Of course the nature of this ship isn't getting from point A to point B safely. But everyone who signs up knows this. As you surely know, on any ship, there will be pros and slackers.

Crab, Sea Shepherd hasn't done anything regarding trawlers. But they have done campaigns against longliners and driftnetting. They've hauled ups miles of ghost nets (drift nets that have long since been abandoned). Of course these don't generate any press and hence dollars for our campaigns. We fully understand that press and propaganda are weapons that we use and will be used against us.

Frontier, I agree that you shouldn't give a penny to Sea Shepherd or any organization without know where the $$ are going.

Tom Clark, Thanks!

posted 07-13-2008 12:48 AM ET (US)            

I live in the Pacific Northwest in a wood products producing area and worked in a logging camp for years.

posted 07-13-2008 09:58 AM ET (US)            

It is believed that tree spiking originated in timber logging labor disputes in the Pacific Northwest of the United States in the late 1800s. It came to prominence as a contentious tactic within unconventional environmentalist circles during the 1980s, after it was advocated by Earth First! co-founder Dave Foreman in his book Ecodefense.

Some tree spikers tend to mark the spiked trees, ostensibly to deter the harvesting of the spiked trees. This practice along with directly informing milling companies is a key practice when tree spiking, since the objective is to stop the cutting of the tree, not damaging the chainsaw. Some sawmill operators check trees with metal detectors prior to milling. Also, chainsaws are equipped with chain guards that are designed to prevent a broken chain from injuring the operator. Due to the intentional informing of sawmills to the presence of tree spikes and logging company safety practices the likelihood of human injury is considered negligible by activists.

While Foreman claimed that injury to humans was an unlikely consequence of tree-spiking if the spiking was made known to authorities or logging companies, the tactic was condemned not only by the companies themselves, but by labor interests and, eventually, other members of Earth First.

Tony

posted 07-13-2008 12:44 PM ET (US)            

To quote Matt;
"The "Steve Irwin"s current focus is to disrupt the Japanese whaling fleet when they come down to Antarctica to harvest 1000 Fin and Minke whales in the name of Research."
Sounds like a Jap guise but neverless...also sounds legal.

Tree Arrow is in jail.

Matt has my blessings...dont get me wrong here.

Im not nearly as concerned about qualifications of Irwin's Bridge Crew as I am their attitude & resolve.
What does "DISRUPT" involve?
Is Matt at risk to become branded a "Environmental Terrorist?"

Keep in mind, I read Matts posts more than others since we both bought GSA Divemasters and restored around the same time. I tried to keep up with him...spoke to him on the phone about rub rails and other BS and maybe Im taking a big of a big brother attitude here. Sorry. I care. I know he is nothing near Tree Arrow, rather, an adventurist, like another guy from Bodega Bay.

The methods of DISRUPTING a legal harvest bothers me. What is "Greenpeace on steroids"?
The General Prudential Rule applies to international waters. Japan obviously is not making this mission a secret as you would expect from high seas Pirates...nor is Irwin's plan to disrupt it a secret.

Keep your options open Matt.

posted 07-13-2008 04:57 PM ET (US)            

Tony

posted 07-13-2008 09:13 PM ET (US)            

I married a Newfoundlander(and happily divorced) whose extended family hunted seals. Tradition thing. I saw the other side of the coin and understand why they do it. Seal flipper pie was a delicious treat and felt honored to be invited to the affair. Different folks do different things in this big world of ours.

posted 07-14-2008 12:21 AM ET (US)            

Good job. I'm waiting some diving action. I've researched a few spots near your secret spot! I've been watching "Megabite" drive by the boat ramp while cleaning out those reefs up North!

posted 07-14-2008 02:28 AM ET (US)            

Taking 1000 whales in the name of research is just wrong.
So what legal means are there to stop them. Writing my congressman? crush my Toyota?

Greenpeace will have nothing to due with Sea Shepherd. Officially, they condemn our tactics. Unofficially, we steal their thunder (press) and that means loss of $$$.
Greenpeace was also down in Antartica during the hunt. Their mission is to "Bear witness" and raise banners.
They filmed the hunt and painted on the side of the factory ship, "Whale meat from Antarctica".

Towboater, when I say "disrupt", I don't mean to sink. Our ship would lose that battle in a hurry. We're a fraction of the weight of the factory ship. There are rammings in Sea Shepherd's past. In the collision you can see on Youtube, we were running close alongside them when they used their size and bulk to force our ship into the ice. Quite a brilliant move on their part. We'll be throwing stink bombs and smoke on their deck. Our Zodiacs will be doing circles around them. Last year two crew members boarded their vessel to hand a letter to the captain telling them to go home. Yes, a stunt. They stopped working until it got sorted out. Money poured in
from Australia, who follow Sea Shepherd exploits like their favorite futbol team.

A while this is happening, whales aren't killed, quotas not met. Winters coming down there. Let's go home, we only got 800 this years and didn't cover costs.

The best thing we can make happen, is to have it not economically feasable to whale.

And no Japanese whaler can get hurt. If we cause a whaler's death, we know we'd be screwed.

The analogy I use is this:
You come upon a scene where someone is committing a heinous act against an animal. Most do nothing. Greenpeace will unfurl a banner and take pictures.
Sea shepherd will flatten their tires, get in their face and pepper spray them.

And Towboater, can you please stop using the term "Jap".
I am one, big brother.

Steve, Yeah I can't wait to go out diving with you.

Matt

posted 07-14-2008 09:03 AM ET (US)            

Tomorrow his cause may be "You". Then you will be wrong.

Be careful who/what you support.

posted 07-14-2008 11:58 AM ET (US)            

I don't think it is debatable that this world would be a lesser place without them.

Enter the Japanese. They have scoffed at the moratorium, and under the guise of "research," have planned to harvest hundreds of whales. These are some of the same folks who for decades have helped to fuel the black market trade in rhino horns and bear gall bladders, usually because they value them as "aphrodesiacs." Unchecked, I believe the Japanese whaling fleet could cause irreparable harm to the worldwide whale population.

However, I don't condone, in any fashion, operations which violate the rules of the road in international waters. These are commercial fishing vessels, doing a job. These situations, which sometimes end with intentional collisions, are dangerous, imprudent, and will eventually result in loss of life on one or both sides.
The appropriate deterrent would be to have an international naval presence there to turn the whalers away, with force if necessary. I also recognize that this sort of intervention would require a long and drawn out diplomatic and bureaucratic fight, which is being waged as we speak.

posted 07-14-2008 12:26 PM ET (US)            

High seas Piracy (illegal fishing) is a huge but underrated International problem. Thanks for your efforts. Take care, keep us posted.

mk

posted 03-31-2014 10:37 PM ET (US)            

Tony would be pleased:

posted 04-05-2014 09:16 AM ET (US)         

But harp seals 2013 numbers:

Harp Seals: