They say they prepare for the worst.
They say everyone on board is willing to put
their lives on the line.
They say they will come every year the poachers
come.
And this year is no different.
Sea Shepherd crews have been heading to the
Southern Ocean in time for the latest season.
Their annual enemy, the Japanese whaling fleet.
And although the Japanese crews say they won't
lethally kill this year; they will be there to survey.
And so too will Sea Shepherd.
Sid Chakravarty is captain of the Sam Simon
ship
We are willing to put our lives on the line
to see an end to these illegal activities.
As much as the Sea Shepherd crews are prepared
for the worst, Japanese crews are willing
to dole out the worst.
Ships cut in half with crews rescued from
the water.
Collisions - being boxed in.
Steel cables dragged across the bow of their
ships to try and disable propellers and rudders.
Over the years and all in a day and night's
work.
But this isn't necessarily considered work
but something more inherent
Activism needs a plan and this plan should
focus on what the end results are and how
far you can go to achieve those end results.
If there's a void, if there's a belief that
there is a plan and there is a plan to make
a change then I believe individuals should
be willing to go the distance and take those
steps needed to bring about that change.
The Sea Shepherd organisation says it fills
a law enforcement void where whaling fleets
could operate without obstacle as governments don't patrol there.
But they do know about what's going on.
As Sea Shepherd's media machine documents everything and relays it back to them.
The organisation has been buoyed this year
by the International Court of Justice ruling
the whaling program was illegal.
But Japan has announced new plans for 'scientific
whaling' after a years pause.
Which Sea Shepherd and other conservation
groups are not happy about.
This year sees Operation Icefish.
A campaign to tackle those trying to poach
Patagonian and Antarctic Toothfish.
Patrolling the so-called "shadowlands" of
the Southern Ocean.
More oceanic standoffs?
More than likely, as Sea Shepherd aims to
enforce, confiscate, obstruct and destroy
poachers' chances of a catch.
