Sea Shepherd is an international not-for-profit organization, based in the United States, with support from all over the world. As our Founder and President Captain Paul Watson says, “Our clients are the whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, turtles, sea birds, and fish. In order to defend and protect them, we are aggressive, yet non-violent, and operate within the guidelines of the U.N. World Charter for Nature. Supporters like you make us strong and make it possible for us to be the most effective marine conservation organization in the world.”
Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.
Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society operates internationally without prejudice towards race, colour, religious belief or any other consideration except for an impartial adherence to upholding international conservation law to protect endangered marine species and eco-systems.
Those illegal operations that we oppose routinely attempt to accuse Sea Shepherd of being anti-Japanese, anti-Native American, or anti-Scandinavian etc, for our opposition to illegal whaling or the killing of dolphins. We are accused of being anti-Canadian or anti-African for opposing the slaughter of seals. We have been accused of being anti-Latino for opposing illegal South American shark finning operations.
Nothing could be further from the truth. We do not oppose Japanese or Norwegian whaling - we oppose illegal whaling as defined under international conservation law. We do not oppose Canadian or Namibian sealing, we oppose the killing of seals.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society operates outside the petty cultural chauvinism of the human species. Our clients are whales, dolphins, seals, turtles, sea-birds and fish. We represent their interests.
We are not anti-any nationality or culture. We are pro-Ocean and we work in the interests of all life on Earth. We only oppose criminals and criminal operations.